All articles tagged with #national zoo
Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., have closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has entered its third week, affecting federal funding and operations, though animal care continues. The shutdown has led to significant financial and visitor losses, with political disagreements delaying a funding resolution.
The Smithsonian museums and National Zoo in Washington, D.C., are closing due to the ongoing government shutdown, affecting all 21 museums and research centers, though animal care will continue. The shutdown has also led to closures of some national parks and layoffs of federal employees, highlighting the broader impact of the funding dispute.
The Smithsonian's National Zoo in D.C. has released new panda-themed merchandise, including shirts, onesies, hats, and more, to celebrate the upcoming arrival of two giant pandas from China in November. The funds from the sales will support the care of the pandas, filling the void left by the departure of the previous pandas last fall.
Washington's National Zoo will welcome two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, by the end of the year following a new agreement with China. This marks a significant moment for U.S.-China relations and panda conservation efforts, reigniting "panda-mania" in the nation's capital.
Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao will return to Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo by the end of the year under a 10-year breeding and research agreement with China. This move follows the departure of the zoo's previous pandas last fall and aims to continue the successful conservation efforts that have helped improve the species' status from endangered to vulnerable. The new pandas will be quarantined upon arrival and the zoo plans to raise $25 million for exhibit renovations and conservation support.
Two 2-year-old giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, will arrive at Washington D.C.'s National Zoo by the end of the year as part of a new 10-year loan agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. This partnership aims to continue conservation efforts and delight panda enthusiasts, with the pandas' arrival announced by First Lady Jill Biden and zoo officials.
The National Zoo's beloved pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their youngest offspring, Xiao Qi Ji, have safely arrived in China after a 19-hour journey. The pandas will reside at the China Wildlife Conservation Association, where Xiao Qi Ji will eventually enter the breeding program. The departure of the pandas marks the first time in 23 years that the panda exhibit at the National Zoo is empty. The zoo plans to renovate the enclosure and may temporarily house other animals. The pandas' departure is part of a larger trend of China pulling back pandas from western zoos as their agreements expire.
Washington's National Zoo bid farewell to its beloved trio of giant pandas as they began their journey back to China. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji were loaded into a cargo plane with crates filled with bamboo, apples, and pears. The pandas, accompanied by zookeepers, will travel to a reserve in China's Sichuan province. This marks the end of over 50 years of giant pandas serving as animal ambassadors in the U.S., with only four remaining in the country. The zoo's future plans for obtaining more pandas are unclear.
The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, is bidding farewell to its giant pandas as China's panda program at the zoo comes to an end after more than 50 years. The departure of the pandas marks the conclusion of a popular panda program that began as part of "panda diplomacy" in 1972. The National Zoo's pandas will be returning to China, leaving Zoo Atlanta as the only other US zoo with pandas from China, but their contracts expire next year with no word on an extension. The dwindling panda program in the United States may indicate a diplomatic shift, as China's loan program for pandas is meant to foster friendship between China and the host country.
The National Zoo's giant panda couple, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, struggled to mate naturally for almost two decades, resulting in the need for artificial insemination to produce their four surviving cubs. Despite various attempts to improve their mating success, including low lights, exercise programs, and even the consideration of showing them "panda porn," the pandas never quite clicked. The zoo experts still wonder why the adults never mastered the basics of mating. With the departure of the remaining pandas from the National Zoo, the era of giant pandas in Washington, D.C. is coming to an end.
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is preparing to say goodbye to its three giant pandas as they are set to depart for China in mid-November. The pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their son Xiao Qi Ji, will be transported in separate shipping containers aboard a Boeing 777 FedEx cargo plane. Due to airspace restrictions, the journey will take a longer route over the Pacific Ocean with a refueling stop in Alaska. This marks the end of a 51-year era of giant pandas in Washington, leaving the city without these beloved creatures for the first time in 23 years. The pandas will have to adjust to their new home in China, where they will be cared for by different keepers and learn some Chinese prompts.
Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will remain open to the public through at least October 7, using "prior-year funds" in the event of a government shutdown if Congress fails to reach a funding deal by October 1.
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.
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., kicked off a nine-day celebration called Panda Palooza to bid farewell to its trio of giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their 3-year-old son, Xiao Qi Ji. The pandas are scheduled to return to China by December 7. The departure of the pandas will leave the future of the National Zoo's giant panda program uncertain. Over the years, the giant pandas have become a symbol of Washington, D.C., and have captivated generations of zoo-goers. The event drew crowds of people, despite stormy weather, who wanted to say goodbye to the beloved animals.
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. was evacuated following a bomb threat, prompting a sweep by D.C. Police who found no evidence of a threat. The zoo will remain closed for the day but is expected to reopen tomorrow, while all other Smithsonian museums remain open. Connecticut Avenue was temporarily blocked due to police activity.