New panda couple makes debut in Washington

Bao Li and Qing Bao, a giant panda couple from China, met the public for the first time since their arrival at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington DC in the U.S. on Friday morning local time.

On the day, children from China and the U.S. performed together to welcome the giant pandas' meeting with the public, according to a press release published by China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

On October 15, 2024, the panda couple arrived in Washington DC aboard a special plane. They made their new home at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, as part of a 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation program.

China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda said that both giant pandas come from Sichuan Province, but Bao Li has a deep connection with this zoo in Washington. Bao Li's Bao Bao was born in this zoo in 2013. Bao Li's grandparents, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, lived here from 2000 to 2023.

Bao Li and Qing Bao met the public for the first time after a 100-day quarantine and adaptation period to their new environment.