There's the Panda Express fast-food chain. Jing Jing, a mascot for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The forthcoming animated movie, Kung Fu Panda. Even a Mexican rock band named after the cuddly bear.
Not to be outdone, Thailand has come up with yet another, seemingly unlikely way to capitalize on this globally loved, bamboo-munching animal — panda poop.
When keepers of the country's panda couple — Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui — got tired of disposing the 55 pounds of feces daily produced by the duo, Prasertsak Buntragulpoontawee came up with the idea of turning it all into notebooks, fans, bookmarks and key chains.
"At first the Chinese were very skeptical," says the head of Chiang Mai Zoo's panda unit, referring to the proprietary attitude China takes toward its iconic animal.
But the multicolored paper products have proved hot selling-items at the zoo, with the 300,000 baht (US $8,200) earned to date helping balance the accounts of panda keeping.
The Thai government pays $250,000 a year to China's Wulong Panda Research Institute to rent the pandas, who, depending on the weather, reside in either a $1 million air-conditioned cage or an extensive, fan-cooled outdoor enclosure ringed by a mini-replica of China's Great Wall.
Panda poop paper production involves a daylong process of cleaning the feces, boiling it in a soda solution, bleaching it with chlorine and drying it under the sun. Experimentation continues on how to reduce the chemicals now used.
Prasertsak says he was inspired by sa paper, or mulberry leaf paper, a traditional, local product which has proved a highly popular gift item in recent years.
"We tried selling it on markets outside but so far with not so much success," he says. "But in the zoo, when people see real pandas and then their product they're excited and buy".
20061123
Turkeys try to catch train out of N.J.
Some wild turkeys, it appears, were trying to get out of New Jersey before Thanksgiving Day. A spokesman for the NJ Transit said train officials reported a dozen or so wild turkeys waiting on a station platform in Ramsey, about 20 miles northwest of New York City, on Wednesday afternoon. The line travels to Suffern, N.Y.
"For a moment, it looked like the turkeys were waiting for the next outbound train," said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. "Clearly, they're trying to catch a train and escape their fate."
Transit workers followed the bird's movements on surveillance cameras. "I have no idea how they got there," Stessel said.
A Ramsey police dispatcher said the department had received three calls about the traveling turkeys who also were blamed for causing morning rush hour traffic problems on a roadway.
"From time to time, I've heard calls that there are turkeys on the loose," said Erik Endress, president of the Ramsey Rescue Squad, a volunteer group. "Maybe they're trying to make a break".
"For a moment, it looked like the turkeys were waiting for the next outbound train," said Dan Stessel, a spokesman for NJ Transit. "Clearly, they're trying to catch a train and escape their fate."
Transit workers followed the bird's movements on surveillance cameras. "I have no idea how they got there," Stessel said.
A Ramsey police dispatcher said the department had received three calls about the traveling turkeys who also were blamed for causing morning rush hour traffic problems on a roadway.
"From time to time, I've heard calls that there are turkeys on the loose," said Erik Endress, president of the Ramsey Rescue Squad, a volunteer group. "Maybe they're trying to make a break".
20061113
238 blame dead guy, neighbor for tickets
More than 200 Australian motorists have avoided parking and speeding fines by blaming either a dead man or an interstate resident for their errors in what police said Saturday may be a widespread fraud.
Under New South Wales state law, if a car owner signs a sworn statement that they were not driving the vehicle when an offense was committed, they can avoid paying speed camera fines, which arrive by mail, and parking tickets left under windshield wipers.
A recent government audit of the excuses given in those sworn statements revealed that 238 motorists had blamed one of two people — a dead man who had, when alive, lived in Sydney and a person living in neighboring South Australia state — Police Superintendent Daryl Donnolly said in a statement.
Some 80,000 Australian dollars ($61,000) of fines have been avoided this way in the past three years, Donnolly said.
He did not identify the scapegoats or explain why police had not uncovered the scam by pursuing the pair for the money owed.
Donnolly said 49 of those car owners have since been charged with swearing false statements and face up to five years' imprisonment. The others will be questioned as part of a police crackdown, he said.
"These offenses amount to fraud and, if proven, those involved could face stiff penalties," Donnolly told reporters.
Under New South Wales state law, if a car owner signs a sworn statement that they were not driving the vehicle when an offense was committed, they can avoid paying speed camera fines, which arrive by mail, and parking tickets left under windshield wipers.
A recent government audit of the excuses given in those sworn statements revealed that 238 motorists had blamed one of two people — a dead man who had, when alive, lived in Sydney and a person living in neighboring South Australia state — Police Superintendent Daryl Donnolly said in a statement.
Some 80,000 Australian dollars ($61,000) of fines have been avoided this way in the past three years, Donnolly said.
He did not identify the scapegoats or explain why police had not uncovered the scam by pursuing the pair for the money owed.
Donnolly said 49 of those car owners have since been charged with swearing false statements and face up to five years' imprisonment. The others will be questioned as part of a police crackdown, he said.
"These offenses amount to fraud and, if proven, those involved could face stiff penalties," Donnolly told reporters.
20061108
Restaurant chain offers food for signs
Turn in those ubiquitous campaign signs and get some free food. That's the message from Southeast restaurant chain Sticky Fingers, which is offering a free appetizer to anyone who cleans up the campaign clutter and brings in a sign.
"Just think of those leftover campaign signs as oversized, roadside gift certificates," said Sticky Fingers co-owner Jeff Goldstein. "It's an easy way to help take care of our neighborhoods."
The Charleston-based ribs restaurant will offer coupons for a free appetizer through next Wednesday.
The chain operates 17 restaurants in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.
"Just think of those leftover campaign signs as oversized, roadside gift certificates," said Sticky Fingers co-owner Jeff Goldstein. "It's an easy way to help take care of our neighborhoods."
The Charleston-based ribs restaurant will offer coupons for a free appetizer through next Wednesday.
The chain operates 17 restaurants in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.
20061105
3-month old baby charged with robbery
Police charged a suspect after a bus driver was robbed of his fares, then realized the suspect was a 3-month old baby.
The boy, Parveen Kumar, had been listed along with his father on an initial charge sheet after the bus driver was robbed, police in the eastern Indian state of Bihar said Friday.
The baby had been charged with robbery, extortion and banditry, said local superintendent of police Rattan Sajai.
Though the robbery in the remote village of Muzzafarpur occurred Sept. 19, the fact that a prime suspect was an infant only came to light recently when police launched their investigation, Sanjai said.
Police blamed the bus driver, saying he reported the baby as a conspirator because of a personal grudge he had with the father.
The charges against the boy have since been dropped, Sanjai said.
The boy, Parveen Kumar, had been listed along with his father on an initial charge sheet after the bus driver was robbed, police in the eastern Indian state of Bihar said Friday.
The baby had been charged with robbery, extortion and banditry, said local superintendent of police Rattan Sajai.
Though the robbery in the remote village of Muzzafarpur occurred Sept. 19, the fact that a prime suspect was an infant only came to light recently when police launched their investigation, Sanjai said.
Police blamed the bus driver, saying he reported the baby as a conspirator because of a personal grudge he had with the father.
The charges against the boy have since been dropped, Sanjai said.
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