San Diego is abuzz with excitement as two new giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, make their way from China to California. This marks the first time in two decades that Beijing has granted new panda loans to the United States. The pandas, a male and a female born in July 2019 and 2020 respectively, left the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province and embarked on a chartered flight to their new home at the San Diego Zoo.
The rare loan agreement was finalized in February following a suggestion by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to send pandas as symbols of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. Xin Bao is described as gentle and well-behaved, while Yun Chuan is known for being smart and lively.
Both pandas were given a grand farewell at the Chinese base, attended by dignitaries from both countries. To ensure their health and safety during the journey, the pandas' team has prepared a special diet consisting of fresh bamboo, bamboo shoots, fruits, vegetables, and a cornbread known as 'wotou'.
Upon arrival, the pandas will be cared for by a team of breeders and veterinary experts from China and the United States. The Chinese experts will stay on for three months to help the pandas adapt to their new environment.
While the pandas will not be immediately viewable to the public as they acclimate, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will announce their debut date once veterinary teams confirm they are ready to meet their eager American fans.
China's panda diplomacy program has been ongoing for decades, with the San Diego Zoo being the first American institution to conduct cooperative research on giant pandas with China. The zoo has played a vital role in studying panda behavior, genetics, breeding, nutrition, and disease prevention.
With fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remaining in the wild, the loan of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao signifies a continued effort to conserve and protect this vulnerable species. The return of pandas to the San Diego Zoo after a few years without them has sparked renewed interest and enthusiasm among visitors.
Yun Chuan's lineage can be traced back to the San Diego Zoo, with his mother, Zhen Zhen, being born there in 2007. Grandmother Bai Yun, born in China in 1991, also spent time at the San Diego Zoo before returning to China in 2019.
This latest panda loan follows the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, sending its pandas back to China last year, marking the end of a long-standing panda program. The loan agreement underscores the commitment to panda conservation and strengthening friendly ties between China and the United States.
