Giant Pandas are Returning to DC's National Zoo!

DC panda lovers have two giant reasons to celebrate! The Smithsonian National Zoo announced in May that it will welcome two new giant pandas from China by the end of 2024—Bao Li and Qing Bao. After saying goodbye to pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji in November 2023 during a series of events called Panda Palooza, this is welcome news for a city that has grown to cherish these animals.

Read on to learn all about the new giant pandas coming to DC. Then check out our guide to visiting DC's National Zoo with kids.

About the New Giant Pandas 

Bao Li

Bao Li (BOW-lee) is a 2-year-old male whose name means "treasure" and "energetic" in Mandarin Chinese. Bao Li already has a special connection to the National Zoo: His grandparents are Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, who lived at the zoo from 2000 to November 2023, when they returned to China. His mother, Bao Bao, was also born at the National Zoo in 2013.

Qing Bao

Qing Bao (ching-BOW) is a 2-year-old female whose name means "green" and "treasure".

Bao Li and Qing Bao will come to the National Zoo as part of a breeding and conservation partnership between the zoo and China. Under the agreement, both pandas and any children they have are owned by China, and any cubs born will return to China by age 4. The agreement is effective through April 2034.

 
Bao Li's grandmother, Mei Xiang, and his mother, Bao Bao, lived at the National Zoo before going to China. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian's National Zoo

A History of Giant Pandas at the National Zoo

Giant pandas have made their home at the National Zoo since 1972, when China gifted two pandas to the US as a gesture of goodwill. Their arrival set off panda-monium across the DC area, and visitors began flocking to the zoo to visit the adorable bears.

Over the years, the Smithsonian and China have  conducted research and done conservation projects that helped move the giant panda from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the global list of species at risk of extinction.

"Through this partnership, we have grown the panda population, advanced our shared understanding of how to care for this beloved bear, and learned what's needed to protect wild pandas and preserve native habitat," said Brandie Smith, the National Zoo's John and Adrienne Mars Director.

Looking Ahead

Bao Li and Qing Bao will arrive in the US aboard a FedEx Express Boeing 777-Freighter airplane known as the FedEx Panda Express. When they get to the National Zoo, they'll be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days to reduce their risk of spreading parasites and diseases to other animals. The pandas will then have a few weeks to settle into their new habitat before the habitat will open to visitors.

And what a new habitat it will be! Since November 2023, the Giant Panda Habitat has been undergoing renovations that will make it safer for the new arrivals and give them more space to roam. There will be new rock structures with shallow pools, multi-level climbing structures, bamboo stands for foraging, and other enrichment opportunities.

And if you can't make it to the zoo right away to meet Bao Li and Qing Bao, no worries! The popular Giant Panda Cam will be relaunched when they arrive, so you can watch them anytime online.