The Smithsonian National Zoo is bidding farewell to its beloved giant pandas, marking the end of an era. The three pandas currently residing at the zoo will be returned to China by December 7th, giving visitors less than five months to catch a glimpse of these iconic bears. Since 1972, the giant pandas have been a staple at the zoo.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, two pandas, were brought to the zoo in 2000 as part of an agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife and Conservation Association. Originally intended to stay for just 10 years for a research and breeding program, the agreement with China has been extended multiple times.
In August 2020, the panda pair gave birth to a male cub named Xiao Qi Ji. The zoo announced that it had signed another three-year extension, keeping all three pandas until the end of 2023.
Mei Xiang has given birth to a total of seven cubs during her time at the zoo. Unfortunately, three of her cubs passed away before reaching adulthood, and three others have been returned to China as per the agreement.
With the departure of the National Zoo’s pandas, only four giant pandas will remain in the United States. The Atlanta Zoo is home to Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their offspring Ya Lun and Xi Lun. According to the agreement with China, the younger cubs will be returned at the end of 2024, and it is expected that their parents will also return. The loan agreement, established in the mid-1990s, expires in 2024, and there have been no discussions to extend it.
Apart from the National Zoo and Atlanta Zoo, the Memphis Zoo and San Diego Zoo were the only other locations in the U.S. to house pandas. San Diego received its first two pandas in 1987, and after multiple extensions, all six pandas born at the zoo were returned to China by the end of their agreement in 2019.
The Memphis Zoo’s 20-year loan agreement with China came to an end this year, and their panda, Ya Ya, was returned in April. The zoo’s research team developed an artificial insemination process that allowed their male panda, Le Le, to assist in breeding pandas worldwide. However, Le Le tragically passed away in February 2023 before the pair’s return to China.
Currently, there are approximately 1,864 pandas remaining in the wild, mostly in China’s Sichuan Province. Successful breeding programs have contributed to the species’ population, and in 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature upgraded the once-endangered species to “vulnerable,” according to the World Wildlife Fund.
As the National Zoo says farewell to its giant pandas, it signifies the end of a significant chapter in the conservation efforts of this beloved species.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
