Zoo Atlanta is set to receive two giant pandas – Ping Ping, meaning “peace,” and Fu Shuang, meaning “double blessings” – that left Chengdu, China, early Sunday morning. The pandas are traveling on a specially arranged flight that includes fresh bamboo shoots and apples for the long journey.
Coordinated effort between China and Atlanta
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported that the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base held a farewell ceremony and prepared a detailed transportation plan. Veterinarians and breeders will accompany the pandas and remain at the zoo to oversee their quarantine upon arrival.
Zoo Atlanta officials have been holding numerous online and offline meetings with their Chinese counterparts to discuss upgrades to the pandas’ indoor exhibition area. The new design expands the activity space and adds habitats, stone platforms and pools, giving the pandas more options for exploration and rest.
Background on panda diplomacy
Since 1972, when Chairman Mao Zedong first sent a panda to the United States, giant pandas have served as symbols of friendship between the two nations. President Xi Jinping recently noted that the pandas are “envoys of friendship” during a state visit to Washington, where President Trump and Xi extended a trade truce and agreed to establish an AI hotline.
Ping Ping, born March 17, 2020, is known for his climbing ability, while Fu Shuang, born October 18, 2020, is noted for her easy feeding habits. Both were selected for their age, health, genetics and compatible personalities, with hopes they may eventually mate naturally.
What to expect
The pandas are scheduled to arrive in Atlanta early Sunday morning. Zoo Atlanta has previously hosted pandas, including the pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who produced seven offspring between 2006 and 2016 before returning to Chengdu.
A banner at the zoo already greets the newcomers, and a zoo representative said the facility will not disclose the exact arrival time. The partnership promises ongoing academic and cultural exchanges to deepen mutual understanding between the people of China and the United States.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
