The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington welcomed a pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, from China after a long flight. The arrival of these pandas, both three years old, marks the latest in a series of panda repatriations from American zoos due to concerns regarding geopolitical tensions affecting “panda diplomacy.” The pandas were transported to their new home in Washington in special FedEx trucks with a police motorcade.
The pair left their home in China’s Dujiangyan Panda Base and will now reside at the National Zoo. The journey was carefully planned with the pandas receiving essential supplies like food, water, and medicine during their flight. Three experienced keepers and veterinarians from the U.S. accompanied the pandas to ensure their well-being.
The return of the pandas to the National Zoo comes after Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub returned to China last November. In recent months, other American zoos, like the San Diego Zoo and San Francisco Zoo, have also welcomed giant pandas from China. The pandas serve as a symbol of friendship between the U.S. and China and play a role in conservation efforts for the species.
Despite the challenges faced by pandas in the wild, their population remains relatively low with only about 1,800 individuals living in their natural habitat today. The leasing of pandas by China to other countries helps fund conservation efforts, although financial obstacles have led to some zoos returning the animals prematurely. The arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao at the National Zoo signifies a new phase of cooperation in giant panda conservation between the U.S. and China.
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