Giant pandas arrive at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute from China

After months of planning and preparation, giant pandas Bao Li (BOW-lee) and Qing Bao (ching-BOW) arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) today, October 15, around 11:30 a.m. ET. They began their journey early in the morning in China aboard a special Boeing 777F aircraft “FedEx Panda Express”. The approximately 19-hour, 8,250-mile trans-Pacific voyage from Chengdu, China, to Washington, DC, included a brief refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. The flight landed at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia at 9:52 a.m. EDT, where the pandas were loaded onto FedEx trucks before flying to the zoo.

When the bears arrived at the zoo, their crates were loaded one by one onto a forklift that carefully drove to their new home in the David M. Rubenstein family's giant panda habitat. The animal care team reported that Bao Li and Qing Bao left their cages and began exploring their new indoor enclosures, where the keepers placed plenty of bamboo for the bears to eat.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for the pandas' arrival, and we are excited to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao to Washington, DC, the only place in the country where you can see giant pandas for free,” said Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars, Director of the NZCBI. “I am grateful to our Chinese colleagues for our collaborative conservation and research efforts, to FedEx for providing safe transportation, and to our donors and members whose philanthropic contributions make our giant panda conservation program possible.” As a result of our collective efforts, we celebrate “Today we are excited to announce a new chapter in our 52-year breeding and conservation program for the giant panda.”

“The safe delivery of Bao Li and Qing Bao to the U.S. demonstrates our commitment to leveraging FedEx’s extensive global network to connect communities,” said Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer, international, and chief executive officer, airline , FedEx. “We are honored to once again serve as a trusted transportation provider and are proud to deliver this valuable cargo aboard the FedEx Panda Express.”

NZCBI animal carers Mariel Lally and Trish Jarvis and NZCBI vet Dr. James Steeil traveled aboard the FedEx Panda Express and continually monitored Bao Li and Qing Bao throughout the journey to ensure their journey was safe and comfortable. Earlier this month, Lally, Jarvis, Steeil and Laurie Thompson, assistant curator of giant pandas at the NZCBI, traveled to China to meet the pandas and their caretakers. They observed how the pandas interacted with their environment and learned valuable insights into their behavior as well as the cues and signals used during husbandry training.

There are many similarities between the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas and the NZCBI's husbandry training programs, and Chinese zookeeper Kai Wu and veterinarian Linhua Deng will work with the zoo's panda team for a few weeks to help the pandas acclimatize to help. NZCBI staff noted that Bao Li and Qing Bao had curious and energetic personalities and seemed to enjoy interacting with the goalkeepers. Smith also traveled to China to meet with Chinese partners and attend a farewell ceremony for Bao Li and Qing Bao held in Dujiangyan on October 14.

Panda quarantine and preparation

As per standard procedure, the pandas will be quarantined in the panda house for at least 30 days. Quarantining new animals is a routine practice in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to reduce the risk of introducing parasites or diseases to other animals. During this time they have access to the enclosures in the panda house. A team of animal keepers, nutritionists and veterinarians take care of them all the time. Animal care staff provide the pandas with various activities to keep them active and encourage them to explore their new surroundings.

Starting today, access to the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, Bird House and Asia Trail will be closed and will remain closed to the public until Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut on January 24, 2025. Given the high level of publicity and excitement surrounding the announcement that the new pair of bears will arrive before the end of 2024, the zoo is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors each day. NZCBI is working to ramp up operations during the traditionally low visitation period.

During this time, limited groups, including zoo staff, volunteers, members and other stakeholders, will have the opportunity to visit the pandas and help them acclimate to the sights, sounds and smells of crowds before their public debut. Members of the Smithsonian National Zoo will be invited to help the bears acclimate during a 10-day preview period from January 10-19, 2025. Reservations are required to participate. Members can reserve free, timed tickets for the giant panda preview beginning in mid-December. From January 29th to February 9th, the zoo will host a public celebration with a number of special events and programs, including a New Year's Festival. No reservation is required for the public celebration.

While Bao Li and Qing Bao are outside the exhibit adjusting to their new habitat, fans can stay connected with the bear couple by following #DCPandas and tuning in to Prepping for Pandas. Launching tomorrow, October 16, on the zoo's social media channels and website, this original, short digital series takes viewers behind the scenes to get a look at how the panda team works – from Animal care experts to architects, conservation researchers and others. Transportation service provider FedEx worked together to prepare the pandas' Washington home for welcome. Each episode of this nine-part bi-weekly series highlights special moments and milestones on the new pandas' journey to their public debut.

Giant panda camera

The Zoo will relaunch the Giant Panda Cam once Bao Li and Qing Bao make their public debut on January 24, 2025, to ensure virtual visitors can join in the celebration and welcome these animal ambassadors to Washington. The Giant Panda Cam consists of 40 cameras controlled by a corps of specially trained volunteers through a central system. As part of this upgrade, all cameras, three console devices and the monitors in the camera operating room were replaced. The webcams will be live from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. After 7pm, the day's recording will be rebroadcast to ensure virtual visitors around the world can observe the animals at their most active.

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On May 29, NZCBI announced a new 10-year cooperative research and breeding agreement for giant pandas, signed by Smith and Wu Minglu, secretary general of the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA). The terms of the new agreement will see NZCBI and partners in China undertake joint research projects in China and at the WA Zoo. Like all zoos outside China that care for and exhibit giant pandas, NZCBI will pay an annual fee of $1 million to the CWCA to support these projects. No federal funds are and have not been used to pay this fee. Federal funding covers NZCBI's essential animal care expenses such as feed, medication, animal care staff and facility maintenance. The remainder of NZCBI's operating budget, including the giant panda conservation program, comes from support from zoo visitors, members and donors.

The NZCBI's $25 million campaign to fund the giant panda conservation program is part of the Smithsonian's Campaign for Our Shared Future – a joint effort that raises funds for all Smithsonian museums, libraries, education, outreach and research centers and the National Zoo in support of a ensures a single, bold vision: building a better future for all. Inspired by the campaign, David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chair of the Carlyle Group, and Adrienne Arsht, business leader and philanthropist, have pledged $10 million and $2 million, respectively, to the NZCBI's giant panda conservation program. Your donations will support the zoo's habitat renovation and efforts by Smithsonian and Chinese partners to develop new techniques, advance panda health and welfare research, and expand work critical to conserving giant pandas in the wild meaning is.

Starting October 15, the Smithsonian invites panda fans to purchase a selection of limited-edition merchandise online to commemorate the arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao. Proceeds directly benefit the Smithsonian and NZCBI's animal care and conservation programs.

To follow the latest news about the NZCBI's panda program, visit the zoo's website, subscribe to its e-newsletter and follow it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and more X with the hashtag #DCPandas.

About the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) leads the Smithsonian's global efforts to save species, better understand ecosystems, and train future generations of conservationists. Its two locations are home to some of the world's most endangered species. The zoo's 163-acre park in the heart of Washington is always free and is home to 2,200 animals from 400 species. It is a popular excursion destination for children and families. At the Conservation Biology Institute's 3,200-acre campus in Virginia, breeding and veterinary research on more than 250 animals from 20 species provides important data for the management of animals in human care and valuable insights for the protection of wild populations. NZCBI's more than 300 staff and scientists work in Washington, Virginia, and with partners at field sites across the United States and in more than 30 countries to save wildlife, collaborate with communities and conserve native habitats. NZCBI is a long-standing accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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