By outdoor-nature-child.com On the evening of October 14th, China’s beloved giant pandas “Baoli” and “Qingbao” boarded a special vehicle at the Dujiangyan Base of the China Panda Protection Research Center, en route to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. They are set to embark on a journey to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., with the arrival scheduled for October 15th. The two pandas will begin a ten-year residency in the U.S. A farewell ceremony was held earlier that day, organized by the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center.
“Baoli,” a male born in August 2021, and “Qingbao,” a female born in September 2021, are both known for their lively personalities and love for climbing.
To ensure that the pandas enjoy a healthy and happy life at the National Zoo, a Chinese delegation of experts has made multiple assessments of the pandas’ living conditions, care management, food supply, and health care. The National Zoo has already implemented several improvements based on the recommendations from these experts, enhancing the pandas’ habitat to ensure a steady supply of food such as bamboo and tender bamboo shoots. They have also established a specialized care team, developed comprehensive management protocols, and strengthened health monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The upgraded facilities include new grass areas and water features, as well as additional climbing equipment.
Earlier this month, the National Zoo dispatched four keepers and veterinarians to China to participate in the feeding, management, and health care of the two pandas. In response, the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center sent two keepers and veterinarians to accompany the pandas in Washington, helping them to acclimate to their new environment smoothly.
For the past 24 years, the collaboration between the National Zoo and China in panda conservation has been fruitful, successfully raising pandas such as “Tai Shan,” “Bao Bao,” “Bei Bei,” and “Xiao Qi Ji.”