Zoo Atlanta Sends Four Giant Pandas to China

Four giant pandas from Zoo Atlanta—Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun—returned to their native Chengdu, China, aboard a specially donated FedEx plane, marking the end of a 25-year stay in Atlanta. The pandas arrived in good health and will undergo a month of quarantine at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Lun Lun and Yang Yang, both born in Chengdu, have been instrumental in the success of Zoo Atlanta's panda program, which has produced seven cubs over the years. Their departure was celebrated with a farewell event attended by over 9,000 guests, highlighting the pandas' significant impact on Atlanta's cultural landscape. Zoo Atlanta's president expressed pride in the program's accomplishments and the international cooperation in panda conservation. This move aligns with the expiration of Zoo Atlanta's giant panda agreement with China, which was established in 1999.