The Smithsonian National Zoo is getting ready to welcome back the giant pandas after a 6-month hiatus. Here’s what officials say.
Their return comes after D.C. said goodbye to the pandas in fall of last year, bringing an end to a 50-year relationship between China and the zoo.
The zoo will once again be home to two giant pandas named Qing Bao and Bao Li by the end of 2024. Qing Bao is a female panda born Sept. 12, 2021 and Bao Li is a male panda born Aug. 4, 2021. First Lady Jill Biden announced their return, alongside Smithsonian Director Lonnie Bunch, in a video shared on YouTube Wednesday.
Officials say the goal is to raise $25 million to secure the panda's future at the zoo and to protect the bear species and mountain forest habitats it calls home. While federal resources cover the zoo's essential needs for the animals, the remainder of their operating budget — including the giant panda conservation program — comes from the support of visitors, members and donors.
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