The San Diego Zoo will be welcoming two new pandas from China this summer, after the majority of giant pandas on loan at U.S. zoos were returned to their home country.
The California zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, recently revealed that their care team leaders had the opportunity to visit China and meet two adorable giant pandas named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao. These two pandas will now be under the loving care of the zoo.
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Yun Chuan, who is nearly 5 years old, has quite the lineage. He is the grandson of Bai Yun, a beloved resident of the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. In honor of his grandmother and the province he hails from, he carries the name Yun Chuan.
Xin Bao, who was born at China’s Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base, is nearly four years old. Her name, which means “new treasure of prosperity and abundance,” perfectly captures her delightful personality. Xin Bao is described as a gentle and witty introvert, with a sweet round face and big ears.
“It was truly a remarkable experience to finally meet Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person, after our conservation partners in China had shared their photographs and personality traits,” expressed Dr. Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. She further added, “Witnessing this global collaboration to conserve, protect, and nurture these exceptional bears is truly inspiring, and we are eagerly looking forward to their arrival in San Diego.”
Since 1972, the China Wildlife and Conservation Association has been engaged in “panda diplomacy,” lending pandas to the U.S. This unique agreement has allowed the Smithsonian National Zoo, Atlanta Zoo, Memphis Zoo, and San Diego Zoo to receive pandas and collaborate with China on various research and conservation initiatives.
The zoos extended their agreement multiple times, including a notable instance in 1987 when San Diego received two pandas for a 100-day visit. However, this temporary arrangement evolved into a long-term commitment when the zoo signed a 12-year agreement in 1996. Two pandas, Bai Yun and Shi Shi, were the first to arrive under this new agreement. Over time, the agreement kept getting extended, leading to the birth of six pandas at the zoo. However, by 2019, all of them had returned to China.
According to the Associated Press, the Memphis Zoo’s 20-year loan agreement with China concluded in April 2023.
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. welcomed its first pandas in 1972. After more than 50 years, their agreement reached its conclusion in 2023, resulting in the return of Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their adorable cub, Xiao Qi Ji. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had been residing at the zoo since 2000, and Xiao Qi Ji, their delightful offspring, was born in 2020.
The Atlanta Zoo stands as the sole zoo in the United States that currently houses pandas on loan from China. However, their agreement, established in the mid-1990s, will come to an end in 2024. As a result, the zoo is anticipated to bid farewell to their pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang, along with their offspring, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, by the year’s end.
The San Diego Zoo recently held a meeting with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to discuss ongoing research and conservation efforts. For the past three decades, the zoo has collaborated with various conservation institutions in China to gain a comprehensive understanding of pandas’ reproductive behavior, physiology, nutritional needs, habitat requirements, and genetic makeup. This partnership has significantly contributed to the advancement of our knowledge about pandas and their conservation.
The zoo has made significant advancements in the care of pandas, including the development of a specialized formula for panda milk. Through extensive research and innovation, their efforts have resulted in a remarkable increase in the survival rates of baby pandas, from a mere 5% to an impressive 95%. Additionally, the zoo achieved a noteworthy milestone by successfully performing the first artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China.
“We have set a powerful example over the years by demonstrating that when we collaborate, we can accomplish what was once deemed unattainable,” stated Owen. “Our shared objective is to establish a sustainable future for giant pandas.”
According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are currently only 1,864 pandas left in the wild, predominantly located in China’s Sichuan Province. The breeding programs have yielded positive results, leading to the reclassification of the once-endangered species to “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2017.
