Giant Panda trio departs Washington for China

Record ID: 1750458

  • Title: Giant Panda trio departs Washington for China
  • Date: 8th November 2023
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 8, 2023) (REUTERS) FIRST CRATE CARRYING A GIANT PANDA BEING MOVED FROM SMITHSONIAN. NATIONAL ZOO FOR DEPARTURE TO CHINA PANDA HANDLER WALKING BESIDE CRATE, REACHES HER HAND DOWN TO A SMALL WINDOW WHERE THE PANDA'S FACE IS SEEN ZOO STAFF WALKING SLOWLY BESIDE CRATE ZOO EMPLOYEES CARRYING BUNDLES OF. BAMBOO FOR PANDAS TO EAT DURING F
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2023 14:50
  • Keywords: China Giant Pandas
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,North America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001656408112023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Giant pandas Mei Xiang (may-SHONG), Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) and Xiao Qi Ji (SHIAU-chi-ji) departed Washington's Smithsonian National Zoo for their journey to China early Wednesday (November 8).
    The panda trio will depart from Dulles International Airport for a 19-hour flight to Chengdu, China including a brief refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska.
    In preparation for the flight, zoo officials fed the pandas breakfast before placing them in individual custom crates after weeks of being familiarized with them. Each crate was then moved by forklift from their zoo habitat to awaiting trucks.
    The Smithsonian Zoo says the pandas will travel with approximately 220 pounds (99.7 kilograms) of bamboo, 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) of leaf-eater biscuits, 5 pounds (2 kilograms) of low-starch biscuits, 6 pounds
    (2.6 kilograms) of apples, 5 pounds (2 kilograms) of carrots, 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) of sweet potatoes,
    3 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of sugar cane, 1 pound (453 grams) of pears and 1 pound (453 grams) of cooked squash.
    The zoo's giant panda program began in 1972, when Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai loaned two pandas to the United States soon after President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China that year. China and the U.S. have worked on breeding and conservation efforts to increase dwindling numbers of the endangered species.
    The panda's departure marks the end of the Smithsonian national Zoo's 50 year agreement with China.
    Earlier in the week, large crowds gathered for their last opportunity to see the Giant pandas before their departure. .
    Dr. Brandie Smith, Director of the Smithsonian National Zoo, choked up as she bade farewell to the pandas, but hailed conservation efforts.
    "The future is bright for giant pandas" and credited ongoing conservation efforts.
    Xu Xueyuan, China's Minister to the U.S., said China will continue to work closely with the U.S. and others on conservation and research to protect endangered species.
    The zoo did not say whether it has any immediate plans to try to acquire more giant pandas, but said on its website that it "hopes to continue this work in the future."
    (Production: Kevin Fogarty, Kia Johnson)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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