10 months, 2 weeks ago

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

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 National Zoo for 23 years before being returned to China last year. toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images “We need that panda!” Mariel Lally, one of the zoo’s panda keepers, traveled with the bears in the FedEx cargo plane last year on their flight back to China. The National Zoo will pay $1 million a year to the China Wildlife and Conservation Association in exchange for the pandas, funds that are intended to support research and conservation efforts.

NPR

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