2 Adorable Giant Pandas Arrive At San Diego Zoo
The pandas are coming! The pandas are coming!
Actually, they’re here.
The San Diego Zoo announced in a press release on Friday, June 28, that giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao had arrived safely and were “acclimating to their new home.”
According to the press release Yun Chuan and Xin Bao “will spend the next several weeks acclimating to their new home in a private habitat at the San Diego Zoo and won’t be viewable to the public during this time. They are being monitored closely by expert wildlife health and care teams who will determine when the pair are ready to meet the public.”
In April, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation and care team announced that Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, two giant pandas would soon call the San Diego Zoo home.
Dr. Megan Owen, Vice President of Conservation Science at the Alliance, shared her enthusiasm: “It was an honor to see Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person and meet our conservation partners caring for them at the Wolong and Bifengxia Panda Bases. Yun Chuan’s lineage has deep connections to the San Diego Zoo, and we’re excited by the prospect of caring for them.”
So, who are these adorable new pandas?
Yun Chuan, a nearly five-year-old male panda, is described as mild-mannered, gentle, and lovable. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007. Yun Chuan’s name even honors his grandmother, Bai Yun, who thrived at the zoo for 23 years. The second part of his name, “Chuan,” is a nod to his home province, Sichuan.
Xin Bao, on the other hand, is a nearly four-year-old female giant panda. She’s a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears. Her name means “new treasure of prosperity and abundance.”
Dr. Owen couldn’t hide her excitement: “Meeting Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person was so special. It’s inspiring to see people from around the world come together to conserve, protect, and care for these special bears. We can’t wait to welcome them to San Diego!”
During their visit, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team met with conservation partners from the China Wildlife Conservation Association. They discussed prospective research programs to protect and conserve giant pandas and their habitat. They also collaborated with giant panda care specialists on specialized care and nutrition programs.
While the exact date of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao’s arrival in San Diego isn’t known yet, the Alliance is working through the necessary steps with its U.S. and Chinese partners. They’re looking forward to a possible arrival this summer.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has been working with leading conservation institutions in China for nearly 30 years. Their partnership focuses on protecting giant pandas and their bamboo forests. They’ve achieved critical findings on giant panda reproductive behavior, nutritional needs, and habitat requirements. Their efforts have dramatically increased the survival rates for nursery-reared cubs and contributed to the downgrading of the giant panda’s conservation status from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021.
Despite the progress, there’s still much work needed to ensure giant pandas remain on the path to recovery. The conservation collaboration aims to improve giant panda population health and resilience in some of the smallest and most isolated populations.
“Our partnership over the decades has served as a powerful example of how, when we work together, we can achieve what was once thought to be impossible,” said Owen. “We have a shared goal of creating a sustainable future for giant pandas.”
Unforgettable Zoos: Explore These Must-Visit Wildlife Destinations
Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE
The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has a huge variety of animals from all over the world, like elephants, primates, colorful birds, and even marine life. You can get up close and personal with these incredible creatures and learn about the importance of conservation. They have interactive exhibits and fun programs that teach you about wildlife and how to protect it. You can explore underwater habitats and see stunning marine species, from vibrant coral reefs to graceful sea turtles. Visitors can walk through what the zoo calls the world’s largest indoor desert and the largest indoor rainforest in North America. And if you don’t feel like walking back from the exhibits, you can take a steam-powered locomotive that circles around the 130-acre park.
Denver Zoo, Denver, CO
The Denver Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals representing more than 450 species. They offer a schedule of exciting and interactive events, including close encounters with animals and diverse cultural performances. Kids can even join the thrilling ‘Bunk with the Beasts’ overnight stay, featuring up-close visits with animals, along with a pizza dinner, snack, and breakfast. Outside of the zoo, their Field Conservation and Emergency Wildlife Response teams work to safeguard species from threats like habitat loss and human encroachment.
The Toledo Zoo, Toledo Ohio
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is home to 720 species and houses more than 10,000 individual animals. It places a strong emphasis on conservation, actively participating in over 80 species survival programs. The zoo hosts the popular Toledo Zoo Lights event during the holiday season and collaborates with research institutions. Visitors to the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium can try their hand at the Expedition Africa Aerial Adventure Course. They also have the opportunity to feed a variety of animals, including giraffes, goats, and alpacas.
Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Zoo Atlanta provides something for everyone, whether you prefer a relaxed walk through the African Savanna or an immersive experience in The Ford African Rain Forest. It’s home to more than 1,000 animals representing more than 200 species from around the world, with many of them endangered. Visitors can see a variety of animals including gorillas, monkeys, and an array of reptiles and amphibians. Also, you’ll get a chance to see giant pandas, naked mole rats, clouded leopards, and other animals in the Asian Forest.
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL
Established in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo stands out as one of the few remaining free-admission zoos in the United States. They have a diverse animal population of over 1,200 animals that you can see through the zoo’s self-guided tours and interactive activities. It includes encounters with seals, polar bears, and penguins. It’s must-see attraction is the Regenstein Center for African Apes, which houses chimpanzees and gorillas.
San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco, CA
Spanning across a 100-acre site, the San Francisco Zoo serves as a sanctuary for over 1,000 wild animals representing more than 250 species. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the birthplace of Koko the gorilla, an iconic figure in primate communication studies. The zoo is home to several major exhibits, including the African Savannah featuring reticulated giraffes, and the Primate Discovery Center housing black howler monkeys, chimpanzees, macaques, mandrills, and more. Visitors can explore the Cat Kingdom, home to Indian rhinoceros, hippopotamus, African lions, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, and even anacondas.
Zoo Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
Zoo Knoxville is famous for a couple of amazing achievements. Back in 1978, they made history by breeding the first two African Elephants ever born in the Western Hemisphere. Zoo Knoxville has bred more endangered red pandas than any other zoo in the world. It also plays a significant role in the conservation of endangered tortoises through its leading breeding efforts.
Ian Fox/ Getty Images
Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian National Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. Founded in 1889, the Zoo is currently home to more than 2,700 animals representing more than 390 species. Like all Smithsonian museums, admission is free. A popular feature of the zoo is its endangered giant pandas which include adults Tian Tian and Mei Xiang and one-year-old Xiao Qi Ji. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the zoo with the Animal Adventure Guide or spend some time chatting with the animal keepers at the Great Ape House. You can also get up close and personal with the American farm animals at the Kids’ Farm.
Png-Studio/ Getty Images
