On Friday, two giant pandas, a female named Qing Bao and a male named Bao Li, have made their debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. This event occurs over a year after the zoo bid farewell to its previous pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, in November 2023. The pair, who are on a 10-year loan from China, traveled to Washington via transpacific flight in mid-October last year and have now adjusted to their new surroundings.

Bao Li (pronounced BOW-lee) is a 3-year-old male, whose mother Bao Bao was born at the zoo in 2013. His grandparents, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, lived at the National Zoo from 2000 to 2023. Qing Bao (pronounced ching-BOW) is a 3-year-old female whose parents are Qing Qing and Jia Mei.

How can I get tickets to see the pandas?

Admission to the National Zoo is free, and no additional tickets are needed to access the panda habitat.

To celebrate the arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao, the zoo is hosting two weeks of festivities titled the “District of Panda Party.”

Starting Saturday until February 9, the celebrations will feature a variety of events, including a Lunar New Year celebration, a screening of “Kung Fu Panda,” and cultural activities organized by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, according to a zoo statement.

Those interested in seeing Bao Li and Qing Bao can reserve passes online at nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events. A limited number of same-day passes may be available at the zoo entrances for those who cannot access the website.

Giant pandas hold a significant place in Washington’s culture. The National Zoo has run one of the most prominent giant panda conservation programs in the world for over fifty years, aiding the panda population’s shift from “endangered” to “vulnerable” status in global conservation efforts.

Where do giant pandas live?

The only natural habitat of giant pandas is located in central China, where most of the world’s population resides. The World Wildlife Fund reports that there are currently 1,864 pandas living in the wild.

A history of panda diplomacy in the US

Since 1972, pandas have represented a diplomatic symbol between the U.S. and China, starting with the gift of a pair to the National Zoo in Washington. By lending pandas to various zoos throughout the U.S. and other nations, the initiative promotes breeding efforts and helps in the prevention of giant panda extinction.

Four zoos in the U.S. have hosted pandas since 1972.

How to view the pandas online

If you cannot visit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to see Qing Bao and Bao Li, you can watch them on the Giant Panda Cam, which will be available starting January 2025 when the pandas have their public debut.

Contributing: Christopher Cann

SOURCE YSL News Network reporting and research; IUCN; World Wildlife Federation; Pandas International; Smithsonian’s National Zoo; Reuters