Panda express: Washington welcomes two new giant pandas to National Zoo
Two giant pandas, a female named Qing Bao and a male named Bao Li, landed at Dulles International Airport on Tuesday and made their way to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., from Chengdu, China. This comes almost a year after the zoo bid farewell to its last giant pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji in November.
The National Zoo is not issuing precise details on the pairs arrival out of security concerns. But their social media teased the pandas' expected arrival with an announcement that the zoo would be closed to the public on Oct. 15.
Bao Li (BOW-lee) is a 3-year-old male. His mother Bao Bao was born at the institute in 2013 and his grandparents Tian Tian and Mei Xiang lived at National Zoo from 2000 to 2023. Qing Bao (ching-BOW) is a 3-year-old female born to father Qing Qing and mother Jia Mei.
Giant pandas are icons in Washington. For more than five decades, the National Zoo has created and maintained one of the world’s foremost giant panda conservation programs, helping move the panda from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of species at risk of extinction.
Where do giant pandas live?
Central China, home to the only natural habitat for giant pandas, owns most of the world's giant pandas. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 1,864 pandas are alive today.
Timeline of panda diplomacy in the U.S.
Pandas have been a symbol of diplomacy between the U.S. and China since 1972 when China gifted a pair to the National Zoo in Washington. Lending pandas to zoos across the U.S. and other countries also encourages reproduction and helps save the giant pandas from extinction.
Four zoos in the U.S. have hosted pandas since 1972.
When did San Diego Zoo receive their giant pandas?
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived at the San Diego Zoo on June 27 and officially debuted to the public on Aug. 8.
Yun Chuan is a 5-year-old male panda. He is described as mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Xin Bao is a 4-year-old female giant panda who was born in Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base. She is described as a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears.
This story was updated to correct a name inaccuracy and to add new information.
SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; IUCN; World Wildlife Federation; Pandas International; Smithsonian’s National Zoo; Reuters