Giant panda Bao Li at the Shenshuping giant panda base of Wolong National Nature Reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan Province Photo: VCG

 

In the early hours of Tuesday, a pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, departed from Southwest China's Sichuan Province and headed to the US to make their new home at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, according to a statement released by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on Tuesday. 

The male giant panda, Bao Li, was born in August 2021, and the female giant panda Qing Bao was born in September 2021, said the statement by the center.

As part of a 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation program, the two giant pandas left their hometown in Sichuan accompanied by an experienced breeder and a veterinarian to help them adapt quickly to their new environment at the American zoo, said the center. Food prepared for the trip includes steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots and carrots, as well as water and medicine, according to Xinhua.

The American zoo had also sent three keepers and veterinary experts to China to assist with the transport and accompany the panda pair, the China Wildlife Conservation Association said in an announcement, Xinhua reported.

China and the US will, in accordance with requirements and technical standards for international panda conservation cooperation, do everything possible to keep the giant pandas healthy and safe. Experts will also be sent on a regular or periodical basis to make check-ups and assessments and provide guidance on the ground, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday. 

"We believe that this new round of international panda conservation cooperation between China and the US will produce more outcomes on the basis of our sound cooperation in the past and will make new contributions to global biodiversity conservation and stronger friendship between the two peoples," she said. 

Researchers from both China and abroad have collaborated in numerous studies to improve the nutritional levels of giant pandas and develop methods for conducting routine medical exams on giant pandas without anesthesia. These efforts have continuously advanced the conservation efforts for giant pandas, said Li Desheng, chief expert of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, according to Xinhua.

To date, China has worked with 26 institutions in 20 countries to promote panda conservation, Xinhua reported.

To ensure that the two giant pandas live healthy and happy lives at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, experts from China have made multiple visits to assess their living environment, feeding management, food supply and healthcare, according to the center. 

Following the advice of Chinese experts, the American zoo has implemented a range of measures to prepare for the arrival of the pandas. These include upgrading their shelter, securing a stable supply of bamboo and bamboo shoots, and assembling a dedicated team to care for them, said the center. 

This is the second time this year that China has sent giant pandas to the US, according to Xinhua.

"The foundation of the friendship between China and the US is rooted in the people, with communication and exchanges fostering common interests which helps stabilize relations," Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The pandas, embodying a mild and adorable image of China, help the US public view and better understand China in a more positive and proactive light, Li said.