Two Giant Pandas Arrive at National Zoo

Two giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, have departed from China for a 10-year stay at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., marking the first arrival of pandas from China in 24 years. The pandas, aged three, are on a specially chartered flight and will undergo a 30-day quarantine upon arrival before their public debut. The Smithsonian has renovated the panda habitat and established a care management system based on recommendations from Chinese experts to ensure the animals' well-being. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S.-China relations through wildlife conservation, a practice known as 'panda diplomacy.' The National Zoo has agreed to pay an annual fee of $1 million to support conservation efforts in China. The anticipation for their arrival is high, with zoo officials preparing special provisions for the pandas throughout their journey.