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Two giant pandas from China set to arrive at Washington's National Zoo

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A new pair of Chinese giant pandas will arrive at the National Zoo after the zoo sent its three wildly popular pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, back to China.

According to a statement by the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the three-year-old giant pandas Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure) will soon be flown to Washington after leaving a research facility in the southwestern Chinese city of Dujiangyan.

When the bears arrive in Washington is still unclear, but there will likely be an extended quarantine and acclimation period before they are introduced to the public. On Monday evening, the zoo’s website posted an alert that the entire facility would be closed on October 14 without assigning a reason. The lead article on the site still said the pandas would be coming sometime before the end of the year.

The pandas reach Washington as part of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. The previous deal expired last year, leading to some concern that Beijing was gradually pulling its furry friendship ambassadors from American zoos amid rising diplomatic tensions.

Breeding pairs in Memphis and San Diego zoos had already returned to China earlier, and the four pandas in the Atlanta zoo left for China last week.

That anxiety turned to optimism last November when Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly wanted to continue the panda exchange programs. This year, a new pair of bears was delivered to the San Diego Zoo, while another pair was promised to be delivered to San Francisco.

In Washington, National Zoo officials were silent about negotiations for a new panda agreement, but they expressed optimism about striking a new deal and launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation. Then in late May, zoo director Brandie Smith teamed up with first lady Jill Biden to announce that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.

The Chinese announcement said the National Zoo had sent “three experienced keepers and veterinary experts” to China to transport and accompany the bears.

Zoo officials declined to confirm the Chinese announcement this week. However, signs at the zoo and on its social media site have heralded the planned return of the pandas, and panda-themed merchandise still dominates the gift shops.

The exact terms of the deal are still unclear; under previous 10-year agreements, the Chinese government received US$1 million per year per bear. Cubs born in overseas zoos are typically returned to China before they reach age four.

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