Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao will be flown on Tuesday from southwest China's Sichuan Province to the U.S. capital city of Washington, according to a statement released by the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The pair left the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda on Monday night and will reside in the Smithsonian National Zoo for 10 years.
Giant panda Bao Li climbs the tree at the Shenshuping giant panda base in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 15, 2024. /CFP
Giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboos at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 2, 2024. /CFP
Bao Li (male), interpreted as "precious vigor," and Qing Bao (female), interpreted as "green treasure," were born in 2021.
To ensure that they live a healthy and happy life at the National Zoo in Washington, Chinese experts have visited the zoo multiple times to evaluate the living environment, breeding management, food security and health care conditions.
The giant panda residence at the zoo have been renovated based on the opinions of Chinese experts. Food sources, such as bamboos and bamboo shoots are guaranteed. Lawns and pools were upgraded and more climbing facilities were added. The zoo also set up a professional panda care team, formulated a complete care management system and technical specifications, and strengthened the regular medical report and on-site inspection and evaluation mechanism.
The China-U.S. cooperation on giant panda protection will make new contributions in protecting global biodiversity and enhance the friendship of the people from the two countries, the statement said.