The San Diego Zoo is set to welcome a new pair of giant pandas from China, marking a significant moment in the history of panda diplomacy between the two nations. This collaboration will contribute to China’s national panda conservation efforts and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

The Return of Pandas to San Diego Zoo

After nearly all the pandas on loan to U.S. zoos were returned as relations began to sour between the two countries, the San Diego Zoo is now preparing to welcome a new pair of giant pandas, a male and a female, by the end of summer 2024. This gesture of friendship comes after the approval of all permits and other requirements.

Panda Conservation and Research

The partnership between the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the China Wildlife Conservation Association will include research on disease prevention and habitat protection, contributing to China’s national panda conservation efforts. This collaboration will also promote mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through international cooperation.

The History of Panda Diplomacy

The black-and-white bears have long been the symbol of the U.S.-China friendship, with China gifting a pair of pandas to the D.C. zoo in 1972, ahead of the normalization of bilateral relations. In recent years, however, only four giant pandas remain in the United States, all at the zoo in Atlanta, after China did not renew loan agreements at three other zoos in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.

Panda Loan Agreements and Costs

Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million a year for two pandas, with the money earmarked for China’s conservation efforts. The pandas return to China when they reach old age, and any cubs born are sent to China around age 3 or 4.

Global Panda Conservation Efforts

The U.S., Spain, and Austria were among the first countries to work with China on panda conservation, and 28 pandas have been born in those countries. Decades of conservation efforts in the wild and study in captivity saved the giant panda species from extinction, increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 at one time to more than 1,800 in the wild and in captivity.

Preparing for the Pandas’ Return

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking important steps to ensure they are prepared for the potential return of the pandas, including sharing their detailed conservation plans with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure alignment for the greater benefit of giant pandas.

In conclusion, the San Diego Zoo will soon be welcoming a new pair of giant pandas from China, marking a significant moment in the history of panda diplomacy between the two nations. This collaboration will contribute to China’s national panda conservation efforts and promote mutual understanding and friendship among peoples through international cooperation.

References:
– https://apnews.com/article/pandas-san-diego-zoo-california-china-6976587ee9992c861d9a56db0cb1ff89
– https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/PR/pandas-san-diego-zoo-2024
– https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/PR/2024-panda-pair-announcement