Loong of the east@loong_of
Breaking: China to Send Two More Giant Pandas to Atlanta, USA
China has announced that a pair of giant pandas—"Pingping" (male) and "Fushuang" (female)—from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan will travel to the United States to embark on a ten-year giant panda conservation partnership. This initiative aims to continue the "panda bond" that has united the people of both nations for over two decades, following the signing of an international cooperative research agreement on giant panda conservation between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Zoo Atlanta in 2025.
To ensure the health and well-being of the two pandas during their stay in the U.S., the American side is currently actively undertaking various preparatory measures—including the renovation and upgrading of their habitat facilities—to create a more comfortable and secure living environment for the pandas participating in this new round of cooperation. Concurrently, Chinese experts are providing technical guidance to their American counterparts regarding the facility renovations, establishing clear standards and requirements for the panda enclosures, husbandry management, dietary provisions, and veterinary care.
In accordance with the terms of the previous cooperation agreement, giant pandas "Yangyang" and "Lunlun" arrived at Zoo Atlanta in 1999 to begin their residency. Over the years, they successfully bred and raised five litters comprising seven cubs—a record achievement representing the most successful outcome of any international giant panda breeding collaboration between China and Western nations.
The two cooperating parties also engaged in a wide range of collaborative activities, including behavioral training, preventive veterinary medicine, and conservation education. These efforts fostered active academic exchanges and yielded fruitful results, playing a pivotal role in elevating technical standards for giant panda conservation research and advancing the broader cause of panda protection. Furthermore, these initiatives made a positive contribution toward enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and the United States.
This new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation between China and the U.S. is expected to drive further progress in key areas, such as the prevention and treatment of major panda diseases, epidemic control, scientific and technological exchange, and support for wild panda conservation and the development of the Giant Panda National Park. Ultimately, this collaboration aims to make fresh contributions to global biodiversity conservation and to further deepen the bonds of friendship between the people of both nations.
However, many people still vividly recall the events that unfolded between 2021 and 2023, when giant pandas "Yaya" (at the Memphis Zoo) and "Meixiang" (at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C.) appeared visibly emaciated and suffered from skin ailments. These circumstances raised suspicions of potential mistreatment—though official investigations ultimately concluded that no "abuse" had occurred—and sparked intense public outrage among the Chinese people. Therefore, we sincerely hope that the relevant zoos and the public in the United States will cherish and care for these precious animals, use the giant pandas to foster greater goodwill and mutual understanding between our peoples, and appreciate China's goodwill.
