05:11 PM EDT on Thursday, August 12, 2004

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Send the pandas back to China. That's one of the proposals from a Norfolk-based animal rights group official who is applying to become the next director of the National Zoo.

If hired, Debbie Leahy with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to send a message to the Chinese government to get serious about preserving the panda's natural habitat.

Leahy also wants to end the breeding of animals in captivity.

The Smithsonian is looking for a successor to Lucy Spelman, who will step down as director at the end of the year. A spokeswoman for the zoo wouldn't comment on the search.

Spelman announced her resignation in February after a report exposed poor conditions at the zoo. An orangutan, an elephant and two red pandas died after eating rat poisoning.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)