"National Zoo Bids Farewell to Beloved Pandas in Panda Palooza"

The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is bidding farewell to its three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, as they are set to return to China by the end of the year. To celebrate their legacy and iconic status, the Zoo is hosting a series of in-person and online events called "Panda Palooza" from September 23 to October 1, featuring panda art, a film fest, and special enrichment events. The pandas' departure marks the end of the "Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement" between the Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, which has been renewed three times since 2010.