(WASHINGTON) — The National Zoo’s absence of pandas is coming to an end.
After the zoo returned its three popular pandas — Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji — to China eleven months ago, a new pair of pandas arrived in the United States on Tuesday. They will be transported from Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia to the zoo.
Bao Li and Qing Bao, a pair of three-year-old giant pandas, have left a research facility in Dujiangyan, a city in southwestern China. They will soon be flown to Washington, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
“Food prepared for the trip includes corn bread, bamboo and carrots, as well as water and medicine,” the statement said. It added that the partnership will “make new contributions in protecting global biodiversity and enhance the friendship of the people from the two countries.”
Once the pandas arrive in Washington, there will likely be an extended quarantine and acclimation period before they are introduced to the public. The zoo’s website posted an alert on Monday evening that the entire facility would be closed Tuesday, without providing a reason. The lead article on the site still mentioned that the pandas would be arriving sometime before the end of the year.
Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure) have come to Washington as part of a new 10-year agreement. The previous agreement expired last year, causing some concern among American panda-lovers that Beijing was gradually withdrawing its furry friendship ambassadors from American zoos due to rising diplomatic tensions.
Breeding pairs in zoos in Memphis and San Diego had already returned to China earlier. The four pandas in the Atlanta zoo left for China last week.
That anxiety turned to optimism last November when Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly stated a desire to continue the panda exchange programs. This year, a pair of pandas has been delivered to the San Diego Zoo, while another pair has been promised to San Francisco.
National Zoo officials in Washington remained silent about negotiations for a new panda agreement. However, they expressed optimism about reaching a new deal. They also launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation of the pandas’ arrival. In late May, zoo director Brandie Smith and First Lady Jill Biden announced that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.
The Chinese announcement stated that the National Zoo had sent “three experienced keepers and veterinary experts” to China to assist with the transport and accompany the pandas.
Zoo officials declined to confirm the Chinese announcement on Monday. Jennifer Zoon, a zoo spokesperson, said in an email, “For the safety of animals and staff, we are not able to confirm any details at this time.” However, signs at the zoo and on its social media site have announced the planned return of the pandas. Panda-themed merchandise still dominates the gift shops.
“The giant pandas are an iconic part of the Washington, D.C., story, both for locals and incoming travelers alike,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “The interest and excitement associated with their return directly benefits the entire city, bringing further interest and visitors to our hotels, restaurants and other attractions.”
The exact terms of the agreement are still unclear. Under previous 10-year agreements, the Chinese government received $1 million per year, per bear. Any cubs born in overseas zoos are typically returned to China before they reach age four.
Pandas have become one of the unofficial symbols of the nation’s capital, dating back to 1972 when the first pair — Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing — were sent as a gift from Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following President Richard Nixon’s historic diplomatic visit to China. Later, a rolling series of 10-year cooperation agreements was struck.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, credited the decades of cooperation with advancing research into panda preservation and breeding. During the lifespan of these agreements, giant pandas have been reclassified from an endangered species to merely vulnerable.
“The current round of cooperation will focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases, and protection of habitats and wild giant panda populations,” Liu said in an email. “We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and the U.S., and help to stabilize the broader bilateral relationship as well.”
