Panda diplomacy: China sends two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta after Trump-Xi summit

CHINA’s giant pandas Pingping and Fushuang departed Chengdu for Zoo Atlanta early on Sunday (Sep 27) on a chartered flight, beginning a 10-year stay in the US, China Central Television reported on Sunday.

Ping Ping, a male born in March 2020, is known for his large dark eye patches and tree-climbing habits, while Fu Shuang, a female born in October 2020, is recognizable for a tuft of hair on her head and her ability to quickly locate hidden food enrichment prepared by keepers.

A farewell ceremony was held at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding before their departure.

Chinese authorities said they developed a detailed transport plan for the trans-Pacific journey, stocking fresh bamboo shoots, apples and emergency medicines, and training the pandas in advance to reduce travel-related stress.

After arriving in Atlanta, the pair will undergo quarantine, with Chinese veterinarians and keepers remaining on site to help them adapt to their new environment.

The move comes as China and the US expand giant panda exchanges following understandings reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to America.

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The transfer also extends a conservation partnership between China and Zoo Atlanta that has lasted for more than two decades and produced seven surviving panda cubs from five births, according to the report. BLOOMBERG