Panda Power Returns: National Zoo to Welcome New Pair After Year-Long Absence

After a year without the furry ambassadors of Sino-American friendship, the National Zoo is poised to welcome a new pair of giant pandas, bringing an end to the “panda drought” that had gripped the nation’s capital, The Associated Press reports.

Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure), two three-year-old pandas, have left a research facility in Dujiangyan, China, and are set to arrive in Washington. The news was announced by the China Wildlife Conservation Association, though the exact date of arrival remains uncertain.

The arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao marks the beginning of a new 10-year agreement between the National Zoo and Chinese authorities. The previous deal expired in 2022, causing concern among panda enthusiasts that the Chinese government was scaling back its panda diplomacy program amid rising tensions between the two nations.

Last November, however, Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly expressed his desire to continue panda exchange programs.

The National Zoo, which remained tight-lipped about the new agreement until late May, launched a multi-million dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation of the arrival of the new bears. In a joint announcement with First Lady Jill Biden, Zoo Director Brandie Smith confirmed that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.

The Chinese announcement also revealed that the National Zoo had sent “three experienced keepers and veterinary experts” to China to assist in the transport and accompany the bears. Zoo officials, while declining to confirm the details, have hinted at the imminent return of the pandas through signs at the zoo and panda-themed merchandise in its gift shops.

The exact financial terms of the new agreement remain unclear. Previous 10-year agreements stipulated a $1 million annual fee per bear paid to the Chinese government, with any cubs born in overseas zoos being returned to China before reaching the age of four.

Pandas have become a beloved symbol of Washington, D.C. since 1972, when the first pair, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, were gifted by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai following President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. Subsequent 10-year agreements have continued the cultural exchange, solidifying the pandas’ place in the hearts of Washingtonians and beyond.