The National Zoo has finally welcomed two new pandas, 11 months after sending its three popular bears — Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji — back to China.
The three-year-old giant pandas, named Bao Li and Qing Bao, traveled from China to Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia, with a stopover for fuel in Alaska. They were loaded onto special FedEx trucks and arrived at the zoo shortly before noon.
“Our team has been working hard to prepare for the pandas’ arrival, and we are thrilled to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao to Washington, D.C., the only place in the nation where you can see giant pandas for free,” said Brandie Smith, director of the National Zoo, who traveled to China to participate in the bears’ farewell ceremonies there. “As a result of our collective efforts, today we are excited to celebrate a new chapter in our 52-year-old giant panda breeding and conservation program.”
The zoo was closed on Tuesday to facilitate the arrival of the pandas. The bears will remain in quarantine for at least 30 days. A statement from the zoo sets January 24, 2025 as the date for the pandas’ official debut to the public and the reopening of the renovated panda enclosure.
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Bao Li (precious energy) and Qing Bao (green treasure) will arrive in Washington as part of a new 10-year deal with Chinese authorities. The previous agreement expired last year, prompting some concern among panda-loving Americans that Beijing was phasing out its furry ambassadors of friendship from American zoos amid rising diplomatic tensions.
Breeding pairs from the Memphis and San Diego zoos have returned to China previously, and the four pandas from Zoo Atlanta left for China last week.
That anxiety turned to optimism last November, when Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly stated his desire to continue panda exchange programs. This year, a new pair of bears was delivered to the San Diego Zoo, while another pair has been promised to San Francisco.
In Washington, officials at the National Zoo remained tight-lipped about negotiations for a new panda deal but sounded optimistic about the move and have launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of their enclosure in preparation. In late May, Smith, the zoo director, and U.S. first lady Jill Biden announced that Bao Li and Qing Bao would arrive by the end of the year.
Pandas have become one of the unofficial symbols of the US capital since 1972, when the first pair – Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing – were sent as a gift by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following President Richard Nixon’s historic diplomatic visit to China. A series of 10-year cooperation agreements were later signed.
“Giant pandas are an iconic part of Washington, DC’s history for residents and 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 increased interest and visitors to our hotels, restaurants and other attractions.”
The exact terms of the deal remain unclear. In previous 10-year agreements, the Chinese government received $1 million a year, for each panda. Any cubs born in zoos abroad are typically sent to China before they turn 4.
Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, credited decades of cooperation for advancing research into panda conservation and breeding. During the duration of these agreements, giant pandas have been reclassified from endangered to merely vulnerable.
“The current round of cooperation will focus on disease prevention and treatment, as well as the protection of giant panda habitats and wild populations,” Liu said in an email. “We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject new impetus into China-U.S. exchanges, and also help stabilize the overall bilateral relationship.”
