Giant Pandas Arrive at San Diego Zoo: The First in 21 Years

Picture Taken from KPBS

The first panda pair to enter the United States in 21 years has just happened this past month, with their new home being the San Diego Zoo! The pandas are Yun Chuan, a 4 year old male, and Xin Bao, a 3 year old female, both from the Sichuan province of China. Right now, they are currently setting up at the zoo for the next few weeks until they can be seen by the public.

Specifically, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are a part of the species known as “Giant Panda”  which is native to China and known for their black and white coloration; as well as their overall cuteness which is sure to draw attraction. 

 But why was the San Diego zoo chosen for this amazing opportunity to have these pandas?

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the China Wildlife Conservation Association have collaborated for the past 30 years in the advancement of panda conservation; which led to them coming off the “Endangered” animal list a few years ago in 2016. This sending over of the panda pair has been made in order to increase efforts and hopefully further move the now “Vulnerable” categorized species into a stable population. But “Panda Politics' ' like this are not only made to protect the pandas, but also are very important for promoting positive diplomatic relationships between the two countries.

So the next time that you enter the San Diego Zoo, make sure to stop by the Pandas and recognize the deeper meaning of why they are there, as well as the great work the zoo is doing to help wildlife globally. 

Make sure to support the San Diego Zoo here! https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/plan-your-visit