15:08, UK, Tuesday 22 September 2009

Tv expert says let the panda die out

Giant pandas cost too much to protect and should be allowed to become extinct, television presenter Chris Packham has declared.

The wildlife expert thinks the millions of pounds spent on trying to save the species could be better spent on other environmental projects.

In an interview with Radio Times, he argues the money should be invested in the conservation of environments with a diverse range of flora and fauna, such as rainforests.

"It's time to give up on the cute and cuddly because we just can't afford it and we need to think of a much bigger picture," he says on his website.

It is estimated that there are only around 1,600 of the black and white bears left in China, with nearly 200 more being bred in captivity.

The animals have become critically endangered as a result of their natural habitat being destroyed and also their reluctance to breed in the wild.

Mr Packham says ongoing breeding programmes are pointless if there will not be any suitable land left to release them on to.

He is recommending the species is left alone to die out naturally.

Last year he was quoted saying: "I'd eat the last panda if I could have the money we've spent on panda conservation back on the table for me to do more sensible things with."

Mr Packham also predicts that tigers will be extinct in around 15 years, saying: "How can you protect an animal that's worth more dead than alive? You can't."

The World Wide Fund for Nature, who use the panda as their iconic symbol, agreed with one aspect of the controversial view.

"Chris is absolutely right in his assertion that we need to keep secure habitat for endangered species," representative Dr Mark Wright told Sky News Online. 

"This is exactly what is being achieved in the case of the giant panda. 

"Give them good habitat and they can, and do, take care of themselves."

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