This is the first time in more than 20 years that giant pandas have traveled from China to the United States. Five-year-old male Yun Chuan and nearly four-year-old female Xin Bao are expected to arrive at the San Diego Zoo in California this weekend after departing from China on June 26.
The bears will travel more than 11,000 km with their caretakers, who will help them adapt to their new environment.
Giant pandas at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base in Sichuan Province, China. Photo: EPA-EFE
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria traveled to the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base, a research and conservation facility, in China's Sichuan province to attend the pandas' departure.
"I was honored to be invited to attend the farewell ceremony in China for Yun Chuan and Xin Bao - giant pandas who came to our @sandiegozoo," Gloria posted on social media X.
The zoo said on June 26 that once the pandas safely arrive in San Diego, they will not be seen in public for several weeks to acclimate to their new home, where they will live for 10 years.
"As soon as wildlife health and care teams confirm Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are ready to meet the public, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will share a release date and specific information on how to meet them," they added.
Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the zoo, said they were “extremely excited” to welcome the pandas. “The farewell in Sichuan celebrates the pandas’ journey and highlights the partnership between the United States and China on important conservation efforts,” he said.
San Diego first welcomed giant pandas in 1996 and has not welcomed any new bears from China in more than 20 years.
In April, the San Diego Zoo said its team met with Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in China and discussed with their caretakers how best to collaborate on “specialized nutrition and care programs” for the bears.
After the meeting, a zoo statement described Yun Chuan as "gentle, gentle and lovable" and Xin Bao as having a "gentle and humorous introverted personality with a sweet round face and big ears".
Yun Chuan's father, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007, and his grandmother, Bai Yun, lived at the zoo for 23 years until 2019.
In the coming months, the United States is expected to welcome more giant pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, as well as zoos in San Francisco, Atlanta, and Memphis, Tennessee.
In 1972, China initiated panda diplomacy with the United States by donating two bears to the National Zoo following US President Richard Nixon's visit to China.
There are currently only four pandas living in the US, all at Zoo Atlanta. They will return to China at the end of this year when their contracts expire.
Hoai Phuong (according to SCMP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cap-gau-truc-khoi-hanh-tu-trung-quoc-toi-my-lan-dau-tien-sau-20-nam-post301117.html
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