Following a nearly year-long absence, panda diplomacy has resumed with the arrival of two young pandas from China, Bao Li and Qing Bao, to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The pandas, who traveled in style with a motorcade from Dulles International Airport, mark the continuation of a long-standing partnership between the U.S. and China.
Panda Diplomacy Resumes: New Arrival at National Zoo
Panda Diplomacy Resumes: New Arrival at National Zoo
After a year-long hiatus, two giant pandas from China have once again taken residence at Washington D.C.'s National Zoo.
In a festive revival of "panda diplomacy," two giant pandas from China have arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., breathing life into the capital's zoological community eager to welcome the black-and-white icons. The animals landed at Dulles International Airport Tuesday morning and were given a police-escorted motorcade tour through the heart of Washington, D.C., before settling in their new home. Smiles and social media buzz followed as "celebearities" Bao Li and Qing Bao, both three years old, took over FedEx delivery trucks adorned with their images for their journey to the zoo, located mere blocks from the White House. Once at the zoo, they will observe a structured quarantine before being introduced to the public in January.
The reintroduction of pandas at the National Zoo is under a 10-year agreement announced by the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The excitement has been palpable since the zoo’s public confirmation in May, albeit with the acknowledgment that preparations necessitated the zoo's temporary closure for a secure transfer process. The return of these pandas breaks a brief intermission, which began last November when the previous trio of pandas were relocated to China’s Sichuan Province, leaving the zoo panda-less for the first time in over half a century. With panda fans' expectations high, the anticipation grows for the pandas' public debut early next year, ensuring that panda diplomacy remains as endearing and effective as ever in fostering goodwill.
The reintroduction of pandas at the National Zoo is under a 10-year agreement announced by the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The excitement has been palpable since the zoo’s public confirmation in May, albeit with the acknowledgment that preparations necessitated the zoo's temporary closure for a secure transfer process. The return of these pandas breaks a brief intermission, which began last November when the previous trio of pandas were relocated to China’s Sichuan Province, leaving the zoo panda-less for the first time in over half a century. With panda fans' expectations high, the anticipation grows for the pandas' public debut early next year, ensuring that panda diplomacy remains as endearing and effective as ever in fostering goodwill.
