The Atlanta zoo has bid farewell to its four giant pandas as they are sent back to China, while the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. eagerly anticipates the arrival of a new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, on a 10-year loan from China. The departure of the pandas in Atlanta marks the end of a 24-year stay, leaving a large void in the panda exhibit that has now been renovated. The arrival of the new pandas in Washington is seen as a positive development for global biodiversity conservation and enhancing friendship between the two countries.
The National Zoo’s newest additions are scheduled to arrive in a FedEx cargo plane known as the “Panda Express,” the same type of aircraft that transported the Atlanta pandas back to China. These pandas are also part of China’s efforts to conserve the vulnerable giant panda population, which has seen an increase in numbers in recent years.
Although visitors to the National Zoo in Washington will have to wait over a month to see the new pandas as they go through quarantine and adjustment, the director of the zoo, Brandie Smith, is pleased with the faster-than-expected return of the beloved animals. The departure of the Atlanta pandas is bittersweet for Zoo Atlanta and staff, who have cared for and learned from the pandas over the years. The pandas’ departure highlights the impact they have made on the cultural fabric of Atlanta.
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