Giant Pandas Arrive at National Zoo
But Visitors Must Wait Until Jan. 24 to See Them
After almost 11 months, giant pandas are back at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, but you will have to wait about three months to see them.
The pandas arrive at Dulles International Airport FedEx’s Panda Express, a specially fitted Boeing 777F. (Photo: FedEx)
About 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, male panda Bao Li (BOW-lee) and female panda Qing Bao (ching-BOW) arrived at the zoo on Tuesday. They left China early in the morning aboard the dedicated FedEx Panda Express Boeing 777F aircraft.
After an approximately 19-hour, 8,250-mile trans-Pacific trip from Chengdu, China, and a stop to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska, the pair landed at Dulles International Airport at 9:52 a.m. The pandas were then loaded onto FedEx trucks before heading to the zoo.
When they arrived at the zoo on Connecticut Avenue NW, their crates were moved one by one onto a forklift that took them to their new home at the remodeled Giant Panda Habitat. Zoo officials said Bao Li and Qing Bao exited their crates and began exploring their new indoor enclosures, which were filled with bamboo for the bears to eat.
The pandas arrived at the zoo about 11:35 a.m. Tuesday. (Photo: FedEx)
The pandas will stay for at least 10 years
On May 29, officials from the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association signed a 10-year agreement to bring pandas back to D.C. The zoo will pay $1 million each year to the CWCA. The annual fee will be paid with donations, not federal funds. Federal funds will cover food, medicine, animal care staff and facilities maintenance.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for the pandas’ arrival, and we’re thrilled to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao to Washington, D.C., the only place you can see giant pandas for free in the nation,” said Brandie Smith, the zoo’s director. “As a result of our collective efforts, today we joyfully celebrate a new chapter of our 52-year-long giant panda breeding and conservation program.”
Animal keepers Mariel Lally and Trish Jarvis and veterinarian Dr. James Steeil traveled with the pandas to monitor and ensure their journey was safe and comfortable. Earlier in October, Lally, Jarvis, Steeil and assistant curator of giant pandas Laurie Thompson traveled to China to meet the pandas and their keepers. They watched the pandas to learn their demeanor and the cues and signals used during husbandry training sessions.
A Chinese keeper and veterinarian will work with the zoo staff for a few weeks to help the pandas acclimate.
Bao Li – whose mother Bao Bao was born at the zoo in 2013 and is the grandson of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang who left the zoo in November 2023 — and Qing Bao were curious and energetic after they arrived, and seemed to enjoy interacting with keepers, according to zoo staff.
Bao Li explores his new home at the zoo after arriving Tuesday. (Photo: Skip Brown/National Zoo)
Quarantine and acclimation
The pandas will be quarantined inside the panda house for at least 30 days. Quarantine is a standard routine for new animals to reduce the risk of introducing parasites or diseases to other animals.
While quarantined, keepers, nutritionists and veterinarians will care for them, keep the pandas active and encourage them to explore their new home.
The panda habitat, bird house and Asia Trail are closed to the public until Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut Jan. 24.
During quarantine, limited zoo staff, volunteers, members and others will visit the pandas to help them get used to the sights, sounds and smells of crowds before their public debut. Zoo members will help the bears acclimate from Jan. 10-19. Reservations are required. Members can reserve free timed-entry passes for the giant panda preview beginning mid-December.
The zoo will hold a public celebration from Jan. 29-Feb. 9 with special events and programs, including a Lunar New Year event. No reservations are required for the public celebration.
While you wait to get a glimpse of the new residents, the zoo’s website and social media will feature “Prepping for Pandas,” a digital series with behind-the-scenes looks at how staff worked to get the panda’s D.C. home ready. Each episode of the nine-part bi-weekly series features special moments and milestones of the pandas’ journey.
Qing Bao eats bamboo as she settles into the zoo’s panda habitat after arriving Tuesday. (Photo: Skip Brown/National Zoo)
Giant Panda Cam
The zoo’s Giant Panda Cam won’t go back online until Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut on Jan. 24.
The cam includes 40 cameras operated by specially trained volunteers. As part of the habitat’s upgrade, all cameras, three console machines and the monitors in the control room were replaced.
The webcams will be live from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. After, the day’s recording will be rebroadcast so viewers worldwide can see the pandas at their most active.
