The Smithsonian’s beloved giant panda exhibit at the National Zoo is empty for the first time in 23 years after the bears left for China on Wednesday morning.
Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their 3-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, left for the China Wildlife Conservation Society nearly one month earlier than their stay’s expiration date. The bears came to the United States in 2000 as part of a $10 million deal with China, but their stay has been renewed three times since 2010.
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The most recent renewal, from Dec. 7, 2020, to Dec. 7, 2023, stipulated that the zoo would pay $500,000 annually to support conservation efforts in China. Pamela Baker-Masson, director of communications for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, NZCBI, told the Washington Examiner that the zoo uses a combination of federal funds to cover panda keeper salaries and “other basics” and donations to cover science, education, and outreach for panda programs.
Now that the pandas have left Washington, Baker-Masson said the zoo may opt to exhibit other animals in the enclosure, but there is no decision on which animals, if any, will be displayed. The zoo also plans to take the time to upgrade indoor habitats, as the panda building’s last major renovation was in 2006, Baker-Masson said.
Though the panda keepers are without their furry clients, they will not be without a job. Baker-Masson said the staff that cares for the pandas work with all the animals on Asia Trail, and the zoo will “discuss the possibilities for temporarily working in other animal houses.”
“They’re all experienced animal keepers and will be fully occupied in other parts of the Zoo,” Baker-Masson said.
The Giant Panda Cam is now offline, which connected viewers to moments shared between Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cubs. Virtual visitors can still enjoy the zoo’s other webcams featuring Asian elephants, naked mole rats, and African lions, as well as temporary webcams like the Cheetah Cub Cam, the zoo said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji boarded the FedEx Panda Express, a custom Boeing 777K aircraft, at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday morning. The bears were accompanied by animal care experts on their 19-hour flight from Washington to Chengdu, China.
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“As Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji depart for their new home in China, they leave behind a tremendous legacy in Washington, D.C.,” said Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars director of NZCBI. “It is exciting and humbling that people around the world have followed these pandas, shared in our joys and rooted for our success. I am incredibly proud of our animal care experts and researchers, whose observations and research in giant panda biology, behavior, reproduction, health and native habitat have helped move giant pandas off the endangered species list.”
“As this chapter of our giant panda program closes, we remain committed to the conservation of this species and look forward to continued collaboration with our Chinese colleagues,” Smith continued.
