Large pandas eat bamboo on the Smithsonian’s Nationwide Zoo, Could 4, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
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Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Two big pandas certain for the Nationwide Zoo in Washington, D.C., have left the Chinese language metropolis of Chengdu for his or her lengthy journey to a brand new residence.
A cargo jet operated by FedEx is transporting the pair, each aged 3 years outdated, the Related Press cited the China Wildlife Conservation Affiliation as saying in its assertion.
The pair — one feminine referred to as Qing Bao and one male referred to as Bao Li — will arrive nearly a yr because the final big pandas left Washington D.C. Their transfer is a part of an ongoing conservation mission with Beijing that dates again a number of a long time and is commonly informally known as a component in China’s “panda diplomacy” with a number of nations that features the USA.
First girl Jill Biden was a part of a gaggle that introduced their deliberate arrival throughout a video launched in late Could.
The Nationwide Zoo has not issued any exact particulars of their arrival out of safety considerations, and cellphone calls to the zoo went unanswered late Monday. However the zoo on social media hinted on the duo’s anticipated Tuesday arrival in asserting that the zoo can be closed that day.
Zoo employees hope to boost $25 million to help in big panda conservation efforts, together with better safety of their mountain forest habitats in rural China. The zoo lately issued a fundraising demand on its web site, asking for assist from guests, members and donors.
A Boeing 777 cargo jet — nicknamed the “Panda Express” — is slated to reach by way of Alaska at Virginia’s Dulles Worldwide Airport mid-morning on Tuesday, in line with flight monitoring web sites which have recognized a FedEx plane that departed from Chengdu.
Based on the AP, the Chinese language conservation affiliation stated that zoo officers and veterinary employees will likely be accompanying the animals. Medication, water and specifically ready meals of bamboo, Chinese language cornbread and carrots are additionally in tow.
