Two giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, sent from China to the U.S., made their public debut on August 8. Born at Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the two young pandas have been acclimating to their new "Panda Ridge" habitat since arriving at San Diego Zoo in June, the first pandas to have entered the U.S. in two decades.

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, proclaimed August 8 as California Panda Day and recognized San Diego Zoo as the first organization in the U.S. to establish a cooperative panda conservation program with China.