China to ship two large pandas to Washington, DC, zoo | Information

Bao Li and Qing Bao to reach this yr beneath a decade-long breeding and analysis settlement, zoo says.

China will ship large pandas to the Nationwide Zoo in Washington, DC, United States first girl Jill Biden and officers say in a shock announcement signalling a brand new period of panda diplomacy between the superpowers.

Bao Li and Qing Bao will arrive within the US earlier than the tip of the yr beneath a decade-long breeding and analysis settlement, the zoo mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday celebrating the return of animals “beloved across the nation and the world”.

“We’re excited for youngsters close to and much to as soon as once more benefit from the large pandas’ cute and joyful adventures at our @NationalZoo,” the primary girl posted on X.

With tensions hovering between Washington and Beijing, solely a handful of the black and white bears stay within the US, and three left the Nationwide Zoo six months in the past.

However Chinese language President Xi Jinping mentioned after assembly US President Joe Biden at a summit in California in November that China might ship new pandas as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese language and American folks”.

The White Home mentioned it might be blissful to have extra bamboo-chewing bears.

“We’re thrilled to announce the following chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership begins by welcoming two new bears, together with a descendent of our beloved panda household, to Washington, DC,” mentioned Brandie Smith of the Smithsonian’s Nationwide Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

“This historic second is proof optimistic our collaboration with Chinese language colleagues has made an irrefutable impression.”

China has been utilizing “panda diplomacy” since 1972 when the primary animals had been despatched to the US as a present after then-President Richard Nixon’s go to to the Communist nation.

Strained relations between the rival superpowers lately have led Beijing to name a number of the pandas again dwelling.

We’re excited for youngsters close to and much to as soon as once more benefit from the large pandas’ cute and joyful adventures at our @NationalZoo. 💕 https://t.co/wZAWdYcJ3n

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) Could 29, 2024

All three large pandas on the Nationwide Zoo – Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who arrived in 2000, and their three-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji (“Little Miracle” in English) – flew again on a cargo airplane to China in November.

The final remaining US-based pandas, at a zoo within the southern metropolis of Atlanta, are on account of return to China this yr though the Asian large introduced plans in February to ship a pair to the San Diego Zoo.

The Washington, DC, arrivals, each two years previous, had been born inside a month of one another at a conservation centre within the southwestern province of Sichuan. Each nonetheless dwell within the province in separate services.

Bao Li, a male whose title means “treasure” and “energetic”, is one thing of a scion of a storied Washington, DC, household.

His mom, Bao Bao, was born on the US capital’s zoo in 2013 whereas his grandparents lived there from 2000 to 2023, the place they served as ambassadors for his or her species.

Feminine Qing Bao’s title means “inexperienced” and “treasure”.

The pandas might be quarantined of their new habitat for at the least 30 days, monitored by a group of keepers, nutritionists and veterinarians.

They’ll have just a few extra weeks to settle into their new dwelling earlier than a public debut at a date but to be introduced, the zoo mentioned.

“After welcoming near 26 million guests final yr, up 16 p.c from the earlier yr, we are able to’t wait to welcome two extra,” Mayor Muriel Bowser posted on X.

“Bao Li and Qing Bao – sit up for seeing you quickly!”