WASHINGTON — In November 2023, D.C. came together to say goodbye to Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi, three giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, as they returned to China.
The bears were part of a program committed to giant panda conservation at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. For 50+ years giant pandas remained in D.C., they became a symbol of "cross-cultural collaboration" between Chinese and American people.
The Associated Press reports that the decades of conservation efforts in the wild and captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing the population from fewer than 1,000 to more than 1,800 in the wild and in captivity.
While Mei Xiang and Tian Tian first arrived from China in 2000, the bears were returned as diplomatic tensions were running high between Beijing and several Western governments. China appeared to be gradually pulling back its pandas from multiple Western zoos as their agreements expired.
Months later, the San Diego Zoo announced China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the zoo after nearly all the iconic bears were returned.
So does this mean there's a chance D.C. could be welcoming back giant pandas at the National Zoo? Director Dr. Brandie Smith says there are ongoing discussions about just that.
“It’s always been our intention and hope to have giant pandas at the Zoo in the future and continue our research here and conservation work in China,” said Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “The Zoo is in discussions with our Chinese partner, the China Wildlife Conservation Association, to develop a future giant panda program. After 52 years of success, we remain committed to giant panda conservation.”
Don't get your hopes up too much. Smith says there are no updates beyond the discussions at this time.
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