National Zoo’s Pandas Depart for China, Marking End of More Than 50-Year Program
The beloved giant pandas that have been housed at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. departed for a flight to China, marking the end of a more than 50-year program. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their…
The beloved giant Pandas that have been housed at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. departed for a flight to China, marking the end of a more than 50-year program.
Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their three-year-old son, Xiao Qi Ji were placed in three separate FedEx trucks which were spotted departing the National Zoo on Wednesday morning, according to a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by NBC4 Washington showing the panda motorcade.
The two adult Pandas, Mei Xiang, who is a female and Tian Tian first arrived in the United States on December 6, 2000, as part of an agreement between the National Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation.
Over the years, this agreement has been renewed three times, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo’s website.
Brandie Smith, the Director at the National Zoo told NBC 4 Washington that it was a “moment of joy” as this was “one more step in 50 years of a successful giant panda