Zookeepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., caused quite a stir on Christmas Day when they released a new video of the zoo’s newest stars, Bao Li and Qing Bao. The two giant pandas are the newest cultural ambassadors given to the United States by China.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 0%
Center 100%
Right 0%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
In the Instagram video, viewers can see the pandas rolling around, playing and getting familiar with their surroundings.
The young pandas are fresh out of quarantine after making their journey from a research facility in China to the National Zoo.
Point phone camera here
The giant bears have been settling into their new homes since October as zookeepers work to finish their enclosure.
“So we’ve been having some small crowds come through here … so that the pandas can get used to seeing people,” zookeeper Mariel Lally said.
The duo is on a 10-year lease through China’s diplomacy program. Just last year, all three of the zoo’s pandas were sent back to China as agreements expired and international conflict heightened.
The zoo hopes to start mating the pandas in a few years. The goal is to expand its program and usher in a new era of breeding.
The pandas officially make their debut in late January 2025. The National Zoo is also offering a panda cam to view the newest additions.
[Lauren Taylor]
A GIANT SURPRISE UNWRAPPED CHRISTMAS DAY AS THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO GAVE US A LOOK INTO TWO CULTURAL AMBASSADORS.
MEET (BOW-LEE) BAO LI AND (CHING-BOW) QING BAO, CHINA’S GIFTS TO THE NATION
THESE PANDAS ARE FRESH OUT OF QUARANTINE AFTER MAKING THEIR JOURNEY ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO WASHINGTON D.C.
THE GIANT BEARS HAVE BEEN SETTLING INTO THEIR NEW HOMES SINCE OCTOBER AS ZOOKEEPERS WORK TO FINISH THEIR ENCLOSURE.
(“So we’ve been having some small crowds come through here … so that the pandas can get used to seeing people.”)
THE DUO ARE ON A 10-YEAR LEASE THROUGH CHINA’S DIPLOMACY PROGRAM.
JUST LAST YEAR ALL THREE OF THE ZOO’S PANDAS WERE SENT BACK HOME AS AGREEMENTS NEARED EXPIRATION AND INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT HEIGHTENED.
THE ZOO HOPES TO MATE THE PANDAS IN A FEW YEARS TO EXPAND ITS PROGRAM AND USHERIN A NEW ERA OF BREEDING.
THE PANDAS OFFICIALLY MAKE THEIR PUBLIC DEBUT IN JANUARY AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 0%
Center 100%
Right 0%
Bias Distribution
16 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
16
Leaning Left
0
Center
3
Leaning Right
0
Last Updated
4 weeks ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
