Two giant pandas from China heading to US

Two giant pandas are on their way from China to the San Diego Zoo, the first pair of pandas to enter the United States in 21 years, according to the zoo’s press release.

U.S. officials and leaders of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance joined Chinese dignitaries and conservation leaders in China’s Sichuan province to bid farewell to the pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, in a ceremony.

“This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts,” Paul Baribault, president of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement. “Our long-standing partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species.”
The ceremony included cultural performances, video salutations from Chinese and American students, and a gift exchange, according to the press release.

Yun Chuan, a male panda who will be five years old next month, is described as “mild-mannered, gentle, and lovable,” while Xin Bao, a nearly four-year-old female, is “a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears,” according to an April press release from the zoo.

The public will not be able to visit the pandas for several weeks while they acclimate to their new environment.

“As soon as wildlife health and care teams confirm Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are ready to meet the public, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will share a debut date and specific information about how to see the beloved pandas,” the zoo said.

China has for decades loaned pandas to the United States and several other countries as part of its “panda diplomacy” practice.

The San Diego Zoo was the first zoo in the U.S. to enter into a cooperative panda conservation partnership with China, although it has not had any pandas since 2019, when the last loan agreement expired.

California zoo-goers aren’t the only ones who will soon be enjoying the company of the furry creatures: Two more giant pandas are also set to come by the end of this year to Washington's Smithsonian National Zoo, which sent three pandas back to China in late 2023.