Washington, We Need to Talk About You and Your Pandas
7 months, 1 week ago

Washington, We Need to Talk About You and Your Pandas

Politico  

And it shows no signs of ebbing even now: As news broke this week that the animals would be returning to the National Zoo, complete with a front-page Washington Post story and a White House video announcement, Washington began to party like it’s 1972. When the elderly Hsing-Hsing was reported to be ill in 1999, local schoolchildren sent enough get-well cards to plaster the glass window at the Zoo’s panda house. | Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images The nation’s capital fashions itself a sophisticated global metropolis and yet it gets all excited about a pair of zoo animals. The zoo said this week that the new bears won’t even play together, a concession to the reality that the lovable animals are kind of unlovable.

China Zoo Washington Chinese Species Pandas  washington  hsinghsing  need  panda  china  talk  civic  zoos  animals  species  pandas  zoo

History of this topic

The National Zoo's giant pandas make the most of DC's snow
3 days, 10 hours ago

The National Zoo's giant pandas make the most of DC's snow

NPR  

The National Zoo's giant pandas make the most of DC's snow toggle caption National Zoo/Screenshot by NPR The National Zoo's latest giant panda residents basked in the downpour of snow that blanketed Washington, D.C., on Monday, giving onlookers a view into the playtime of the two furry bears ahead of their Jan. 24 public debut. Video posted by the National …

Giant Pandas Set to Arrive in Washington, DC: A 10-Year Journey for Conservation
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Giant Pandas Set to Arrive in Washington, DC: A 10-Year Journey for Conservation

China Daily  

Washington welcomes two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, for a 10-year stay at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The bears will be cared for by Chinese experts and provided with a spacious living environment. The zoo has established a dedicated care team and ensured a stable source of edible bamboo for the pandas.

Giant Pandas Set to Arrive in Washington, DC: A 10-Year Journey for Conservation
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Giant Pandas Set to Arrive in Washington, DC: A 10-Year Journey for Conservation

China Daily  

Washington welcomes two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, for a 10-year stay at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. The bears will be cared for by Chinese experts and provided with a new grassland, pond, and climbing structures. The zoo will be closed to the public on Tuesday, but updates will be provided as they become available.

Giant Pandas Arrive in Washington, D.C., but Won't Be Ready for Public Debut Until January
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Giant Pandas Arrive in Washington, D.C., but Won't Be Ready for Public Debut Until January

Associated Press  

The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., has welcomed a new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, from China. The bears, three-year-old giant pandas, were flown from China to Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia and will be quarantined for at least 30 days before their official public debut in January 2025.

Giant pandas will arrive at D.C.'s National Zoo this week
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Giant pandas will arrive at D.C.'s National Zoo this week

NPR  

Giant pandas will arrive at D.C.'s National Zoo this week toggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP Two giant pandas bound for the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., have left the Chinese city of Chengdu for their long journey to a new home. The pair — one female called Qing Bao and one male called Bao Li — will arrive almost a year …

Giant Pandas are returning to D.C.'s National Zoo
7 months, 1 week ago

Giant Pandas are returning to D.C.'s National Zoo

NPR  

Giant Pandas are returning to D.C.'s National Zoo toggle caption Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images Giant pandas have been one of the biggest attractions at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., ever since the first pair arrived in 1972 -- a historic token of friendship from communist China. Bao Li’s grandparents, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, lived at the …

Panda diplomacy: China may be making the U.S. a cuddly offer it cannot refuse.
1 year, 1 month ago

Panda diplomacy: China may be making the U.S. a cuddly offer it cannot refuse.

Slate  

This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. Considering the rather frosty relations between the U.S. and China, many people worried that their send-off might foreshadow a future with no pandas in the U.S. Now, a mere seven days later, China’s President Xi …

Washington, D.C., celebrates beloved pandas before they return to China
1 year, 2 months ago

Washington, D.C., celebrates beloved pandas before they return to China

NPR  

Washington, D.C., celebrates beloved pandas before they return to China Since 1972, China has gifted or loaned pandas to countries across the globe – often coinciding with major trade deals. Since 1972, China's gifted or loaned pandas to countries across the globe, often coinciding with major trade deals. FENSTON: As the D.C. zoo prepares for the pandas to leave, keeper …

Eats, sleeps and leaves: Why pandas are bidding bye-bye to US zoos
1 year, 3 months ago

Eats, sleeps and leaves: Why pandas are bidding bye-bye to US zoos

Firstpost  

China has for decades ‘gifted’ the creatures – in a scheme labelled ‘Panda Diplomacy’ – to serve as goodwill ambassadors and soften its image. Alan Chong, a soft power expert and senior fellow at RSIS said the animals “serve as an index as well as a vehicle for promoting good relations between China and the recipient country.” A piece in …

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