Two large pandas arrived on the Nationwide Zoo in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, lower than a 12 months after the nation’s capital mentioned goodbye to a different pair of pandas that have been on mortgage from China.
The brand new pandas — Bao Li and Qing Bao — departed Chengdu, China, on Monday and made a cease in Anchorage, Alaska, based on airplane tracker FlightAware.com. From there, the pandas left for Washington’s Dulles Worldwide Airport and landed at 9:53 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.
Two FedEx vehicles then transported the pandas from the airport to the Nationwide Zoo. Folks cheered when the vehicles adorned with large panda footage on the aspect and their police escort pulled into the zoo.
“One thing *large* is coming to Washington, D.C. by way of the @FedEx Panda Categorical,” the Nationwide Zoo mentioned in a social media publish Monday. “The Zoo can be closed to the general public tomorrow, Oct. 15. For the security of the pandas and employees, we won’t disclose any further timing.”
Roshan Patel/Nationwide Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Nationwide Zoo first acquired pandas from China in 1972 after President Richard Nixon’s journey to China to open diplomatic and commerce relations between the 2 nations. China “has used pandas to pursue diplomatic aims, a apply termed panda diplomacy,” based on the Congressional Analysis Service.
China in 2000 despatched Mei Xiang and Tian Tian to the Nationwide Zoo as a part of an settlement with the China Wildlife and Conservation Affiliation. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have been supposed to remain within the U.S. for 10 years, however the settlement was prolonged a number of occasions. The pair of pandas in 2020 had a cub, Xiao Qi Ji.
Xiao Qi Ji and his mother and father have been returned to China in November of final 12 months. After they left, Zoo Atlanta was the one zoo within the U.S. with large pandas. Their pandas are set to return to China in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months.
Then large pandas returned to the San Diego Zoo this summer time for the primary time since 2019. And in Could, first woman Dr. Jill Biden joined Smithsonian officers to announce pandas have been coming again to the nation’s capital.
Bao Li, a 2-year-old male, was born in Sichuan to father An An and mom Bao Bao. He already has ties to the U.S.: Bao Li’s mom was born on the Nationwide Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in 2013 and his grandparents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, lived on the Nationwide Zoo from 2000 to 2023.
Roshan Patel/Nationwide Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Qing Bao, the feminine panda loaned to the U.S., can also be 2 years outdated.
The pandas can be quarantined for no less than 30 days after they arrive on the Nationwide Zoo, based on the power. Quarantine will permit the zoo to cut back the chance of introducing parasites or illness to different animals.
They’re going to then have a number of extra weeks to settle into their new house earlier than their public debut. The Smithsonian Zoo has not but shared a public debut, solely saying that it will likely be introduced “as quickly because the animal care staff feels the bears are prepared to satisfy guests.”
The enormous panda is at present listed as susceptible on the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature Pink Checklist.
The Nationwide Zoo can also be house to pink pandas.
Alex Sundby
contributed to this report.
