Bao Li (BOW lee), a male, and Qing Bao (ching BOW), a female, arrived at the National Zoo on October 15. A pair of pandas at the San Diego Zoo in California are the only other giant pandas in the U.S. 

All four animals are on loan from China, the only country where pandas live in the wild. For decades, the Chinese government’s “panda diplomacy” program has lent its bears to zoos in other nations as a sign of friendship. In exchange for hosting Bao Li and Qing Bao, the National Zoo will pay a yearly fee of $1 million to China.

Bao Li (BOW lee) and Qing Bao (ching BOW) arrived at the National Zoo on October 15. Bao Li is male, and Qing Bao is female. There are only two other giant pandas in the U.S. Those are at the San Diego Zoo in California. 

All four animals are on loan from China. That’s the only country where pandas live in the wild. For decades, the Chinese government has had a “panda diplomacy” program. The program lends pandas to zoos in other nations as a sign of friendship. In exchange for hosting Bao Li and Qing Bao, the National Zoo will pay China a yearly fee of $1 million. 

Bao Li and Qing Bao traveled on a plane nicknamed the Panda Express. It’s specially designed to move the large animals in crates. Veterinarians flew with the pandas from Chengdu, China. They packed plenty of snacks, including the bears’ favorite food, a plant called bamboo. After about 19 hours, and a brief stop in Alaska, the pandas arrived at an airport near Washington, D.C. Then they were loaded onto trucks and taken to their new home at the National Zoo.

Over the next few months, zookeepers made sure the pandas were healthy and comfortable in their new surroundings. The zoo showed off Bao Li and Qing Bao to the public for the first time on January 24.

Bao Li and Qing Bao traveled on a plane. The plane is nicknamed the Panda Express. It’s specially designed to move the large animals in crates. Veterinarians flew with the pandas from Chengdu, China. They packed plenty of snacks, including the bears’ favorite food. That’s a plant called bamboo. After about 19 hours, the pandas arrived at an airport near Washington, D.C. They were loaded onto trucks. Then they were taken to their new home at the National Zoo.

Over the next few months, zookeepers made sure the pandas were healthy and comfortable. On January 24, the zoo showed off Bao Li and Qing Bao to the public for the first time. 

Getting the public interested in threatened species is key to helping them, says Ellie Tahmaseb. She’s a spokesperson for the National Zoo. 

“To save wildlife, people need to care about wildlife,” she explains. “When people learn about and love pandas, they are inspired to donate to support wildlife conservation.”

Most Americans won’t get the chance to see pandas in the wild in China. Sending the animals to U.S. zoos allows millions of people to get up close to them. And thanks to popular panda cams, people can see the bears online in real time. The two new arrivals at the National Zoo are showing off their personalities.

“Bao Li is outgoing, curious, and playful,” Tahmaseb says. “Qing Bao is more independent and prefers to do her own thing.”

Getting the public interested in threatened species is key to helping them. That’s according to Ellie Tahmaseb. She works at the National Zoo. 

“To save wildlife, people need to care about wildlife,” she explains. “When people learn about and love pandas, they are inspired to donate to support wildlife conservation.”

Most Americans won’t get the chance to see pandas in the wild in China. But sending the animals to U.S. zoos allows millions of people to see them up close. And thanks to panda cams, people can watch the bears online. The two pandas at the National Zoo are showing off their personalities.

“Bao Li is outgoing, curious, and playful,” Tahmaseb says. “Qing Bao is more independent and prefers to do her own thing.”

No. China loans pandas to zoos for specific periods of time. Bao Li and Qing Bao will return to China in 2034. Scientists hope the bears will mate during their time at the zoo. Any cubs they have will be sent to China before they turn 4 years old. 

In the meantime, Tahmaseb says, the zoo is grateful to help the public learn more about the bears.

“The pandas are proof of how much good the global community can do when we work together,” she says.

No. China loans pandas to zoos for specific periods of time. Bao Li and Qing Bao will return to China in 2034. Scientists hope the bears will mate at the zoo. Any cubs they have will be sent to China before they turn 4 years old. 

In the meantime, Tahmaseb says, the zoo is glad to help visitors learn more about the bears.

“The pandas are proof of how much good the global community can do when we work together,” she says.

1. What does the article mean by the phrase “panda diplomacy”?

2. How do China’s reserves help giant pandas?

3. Based on the article, how could the giant panda species benefit from Bao Li and Qing Bao being at the National Zoo?

1. What does the article mean by the phrase “panda diplomacy”?

2. How do China’s reserves help giant pandas?

3. Based on the article, how could the giant panda species benefit from Bao Li and Qing Bao being at the National Zoo?