American zoos pay $1.1 million to rent pandas from China and are forbidden to talk with journ*lists without Chinese permission

Administrators cannot discuss panda illness, death, disease or "any other important matters" without first consulting with their Chinese partners, whose views "shall be fully respected."

"In cases where release of related information to the outside world or acceptance of media interviews is necessary, it shall be implemented only after communication and consultation between the parties and a consensus is reached," the contracts read. "And where no consensus is reached, no news shall be released."

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Zoos pay up to $1.1 million a year to rent pairs of pandas from China. To raise money, zoos court donations from everyday people and big-ticket philanthropists.

The arrangement is, at its heart, a rental. China retains ownership of the pandas, and zoos pay for the right to display and breed them for a decade.

But the China Wildlife Conservation Association prohibits zoos from discussing the deal in that way. "Commercial terms such as 'lease,' 'rental,' 'loan agreement' or 'contract' shall not be used," the National Zoo's current contract dictates.

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