Two giant pandas arrive in Atlanta on Chinese loan

ATLANTA: Two giant pandas from China have arrived in Atlanta as part of a new loan agreement with Zoo Atlanta, bringing the animals back to the US city after four pandas were returned to China in 2024.

The male panda, Ping Ping, and the female, Fu Shuang, travelled from Chengdu in southwestern China on a FedEx flight. Their arrival marks a new chapter in the long-running exchange of pandas between China and the United States.

The pandas left Chengdu early Sunday and were transported to the airport in specially designed crates. The journey to Atlanta lasted nearly 16 hours.

Chinese authorities sent veterinarians and experienced panda keepers with the animals. They will support the pandas as they enter quarantine at Zoo Atlanta and help monitor their health during the initial period.

Zoo Atlanta has spent months preparing for their arrival. The zoo has upgraded the pandas’ enclosures and expanded their living space. Officials have also arranged a steady supply of bamboo and assigned experienced staff to care for the animals.

The arrival has attracted considerable attention because giant pandas remain relatively rare in American zoos. Zoo Atlanta previously hosted pandas for 25 years before its earlier agreement with China ended.

The previous pair, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, lived at the zoo for many years and produced seven cubs between 2006 and 2016. The four pandas living at the zoo were eventually returned to China in 2024.

Panda exchanges have played a prominent role in China’s international relations for decades. Beijing has sent pandas to foreign countries as part of cultural and diplomatic exchanges, often describing them as symbols of friendship.

China began sending pandas to the United States in 1972, following then-US President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China. Since then, the animals have become closely associated with relations between the two countries.

The latest arrival comes as Beijing and Washington continue efforts to manage tensions over trade, technology and other issues. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met US President Donald Trump, with the two sides agreeing to extend a trade truce and establish an artificial intelligence hotline.

Ping Ping was born on March 17, 2020. Chinese officials describe him as gentle and energetic, with a particular talent for climbing trees. His name means “peace.”

Fu Shuang was born on October 18, 2020. Her name translates roughly as “double blessings.” She is known for quickly finding food and has a strong liking for honey.

The two pandas were selected by specialists at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding after assessments of their age, health, genetics and temperament.

The animals underwent extensive preparations before the journey. They spent about a month in quarantine and were gradually trained to remain comfortable inside their travel crates. They were also exposed to loud sounds to prepare them for the long flight.

Pandas are native to China and mainly depend on bamboo for food. Their natural habitat has become increasingly limited over the years because of human development and environmental changes.

Chengdu and the wider Sichuan province are now major centres for panda conservation and breeding. The region contains several protected areas and research facilities dedicated to the species.

For the pandas’ former keepers in China, the departure was emotional. One caretaker said she had looked after Ping Ping and Fu Shuang since they were tiny cubs and compared the experience to raising children.

The new arrivals are expected to spend their initial period in quarantine before eventually being introduced to visitors. Their presence is also expected to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges between Chinese conservation experts and Zoo Atlanta.