Panda fans in Washington, D.C., have a reason to celebrate! The National Zoo has announced that two more giant pandas will be arriving from China by the end of the year. This exciting news comes just six months after the nation’s capital bid an emotional farewell to its previous panda residents.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has reached a new agreement with the Chinese government, which will bring a pair of adult pandas named Bao Li (pronounced BOW’-lee) and Qing Bao (ching-BOW’) to the zoo. Brandie Smith, the zoo’s director, expressed her excitement about this next chapter in their breeding and conservation partnership with Chinese colleagues.
Giant pandas are cherished not only in Washington but around the world. However, the number of pandas in American zoos has been decreasing as loan agreements with China have lapsed due to diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Washington’s three pandas returned to China last November, leaving only one panda family remaining in the United States at Zoo Atlanta, which is also scheduled to return to China later this year.
The National Zoo has been a leader in giant panda conservation for more than five decades, helping move the species from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of species at risk of extinction. Chinese President Xi Jinping had previously signaled that China would be sending new pandas to the United States, calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.”
The zoo released a light-hearted video featuring Smith, Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, and first lady Jill Biden discussing the protocol for welcoming the new pandas. The video humorously hinted at the pandas’ dietary preferences and iconic black and white coloring.
The new pandas coming to Washington are Bao Li, a 2-year-old male whose name means “treasure” and “energetic,” and Qing Bao, a 2-year-old female whose name means “green” and “treasure.” Bao Li’s mother, Bao Bao, was born at the National Zoo in 2013, and his grandparents, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, lived at the zoo from 2000 to 2023.
The research and breeding agreement with China runs through April 2034 and stipulates that any cubs born at the zoo will move to China by age 4.
The zoo will pay a $1 million annual fee to the China Wildlife Conservation Association to support research and conservation efforts in China.
In addition to the National Zoo, the San Diego Zoo and San Francisco Zoo are also expecting new panda pairs in the near future, marking a resurgence of these beloved animals in American zoos after a period of absence.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.