Bei Bei leaves U.S. zoo for 'Panda Express' flight to China

Record ID: 1443140

  • Title: Bei Bei leaves U.S. zoo for 'Panda Express' flight to China
  • Date: 19th November 2019
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) FEDEX CRATE CARRYING BEI BEI BEING MOVED ALONG A PATH AT THE ZOO FOR THE PANDA'S TRANSPORT TO AIRPORT WHITE FLASH VARIOUS SHOTS EARLIER IN THE MORNING OF BEI BEI EATING BAMBOO IN HIS OUTDOOR ENCLOSURE WHITE FLASH BEI BEI TUMBLING OF A LANDING IN THE ENCLOSURE WHITE FLASH WIDE OF BEI BEI IN HIS OUTDOOR ENCLOSURE CLOSE UP OF BEI BEI EATING
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2019 13:59
  • Keywords: giant Panda Bei Bei flight to China Fedex crate National Zoo
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B67DJRB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: It was time to finally say goodbye to Bei Bei on Tuesday (November 19) when the beloved Giant Panda at Washington's National Zoo's was put into a large animal crate for his long-haul flight to China.
    Bei Bei, who was born at the National Zoo, has reached the age of four years and that means, per tradition, it was time for the panda to move from the U.S. to the species' native homeland.
    The crate will be transported to Dulles international airport outside Washington Tuesday for the panda's journey to Chengdu, China.
    Bei Bei will not be flying 'coach'. He will be transported via a specially-outfitted Boeing 777F, flown by international carrier FedEx.
    For the past month, the National Zoo hosted a series of celebratory events inviting the general public to bid 'bye bye to Bei Bei', including, this week, a Postcard Station next to his outdoor habitat where guests wrote well wishes that will be mailed to his keepers in China.
    The Embassy of China threw a 'dumpling party' for humans and there was even a social media challenge with the hastag #BeiBeiMixTape, where users could recommend their favorite songs for the panda's long flight 'home'.
    The National zoo has collaborated with Chinese scientists on a breeding program since it received its first pandas in 1972 following President Richard Nixon's visit to China. As part of the program, pandas return to China at four years of age so they can breed when they reach maturity at five.
    (Production: Mana Rabiee)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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