Hong Kong – a giant panda pair Their journey begins on Monday from China to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, where they will begin a 10-year residency in the country's capital, just weeks before the presidential election.
Bao Li, a 3-year-old male, and King Bao, a 3-year-old female, are the latest pandas to be sent to the United States, after a series of repatriations from American zoos raised concerns. Geopolitical tensions could undermine “panda diplomacy”. A long-standing symbol of friendship between the world's two largest economies.
The pair left for the China Conservation and Research Center's Dujian Panda Base airport in the southwestern province of Sichuan, the China Wildlife Conservation Association said in a statement.
“The pandas will be provided with essential items such as steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots, carrots, water and medicine to meet their needs during the flight,” the statement said.
“The American side sent three experienced keepers and veterinarians to Sichuan in advance to help care for the pandas and familiarize themselves with their conditions, and they will accompany the pandas on the trip,” he said.
“We believe that this new phase of US-China cooperation on giant panda conservation will build on the existing strong partnership, achieving greater success in areas such as the prevention and treatment of major panda diseases, epidemic prevention, exchange and scientific contribution. Conserve wild pandas and build national parks for giant pandas,” he added.
The National Zoo has been without pandas since last November, when adult pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their 3-year-old male cub, Xiao Kui Ji, returned to China after attempts to renew their loan agreement failed. Bears have long been one of the zoo's main attractions, and adult pandas have been there since 2000.
In the same month, Dr. during a visit to the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping – with whom President Joe Biden's US-China relationship is working to improve after hitting its lowest level in decades – has suggested that more pandas may be coming.
In June, Yun Chuan and Jin Bao were born, the first pandas to enter the United States in decades. The pair made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo in August.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed also said the city's zoo is preparing to receive its first pair of pandas from China.
The National Zoo announced the imminent arrival of two new bears, one in May Video featuring First Lady Jill Biden. Like the San Diego Bears, Bao Li and Qing Bao's departures from China were shrouded in secrecy due to security concerns, “toxic” panda fans, those who oppose sending the bear abroad because of nationalism or fear be mistreated.
They left China shortly after four pandas returned from the Atlanta Zoo over the weekend: Lun Lun, Yang Yang and their twin cubs, Ya Lun and Shi Lun.
Beijing gave the United States its first two pandas after President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, considered a milestone in US-China relations. The bear is native to China and is seen as a national symbol.
China leases at least 60 pandas to more than 20 countries, using the money for conservation efforts. A zoo in Finland said last month that the cost can sometimes be too high, as it was returning two of its bears to China ahead of schedule due to a lack of resources.
Although they are no longer considered endangered, about 1,800 pandas today live in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Foundation.
