Sophia Flores of OAN
3:33 PM – Thursday, February 22, 2024
China is reportedly sending two giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, considered perhaps the best zoo in the United States.
advertisement
“The world-famous San Diego Zoo is located on 100 acres and is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals. In addition to the 600 different species on display, the zoo’s 700,000 The variety of plants creates a lush jungle environment like no other.” cntraveler.com.
On Thursday, both the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement for giant panda collaboration.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Through a new round of international cooperation, we will further expand the achievements of scientific research on the conservation of endangered species such as giant pandas, promote people-to-people connections, and strengthen civil and friendly relations with relevant countries. I look forward to it.” Spokesperson Mao Ning said this at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
If all permits and other requirements are met and approved, male and female pandas could arrive at the zoo as early as this summer.
Dr. Megan Owen said one of the female pandas China is considering sending to San Diego is also a distant relative of two of the zoo’s previous residents.
The San Diego Zoo has been without a giant panda since 2019. The most famous panda new to the zoo was Huamei. Huamei, the first giant panda cub to survive to adulthood in the United States, was born on August 21st.cent1999. However, the female panda was repatriated to China after spending time in San Diego.
The move comes months after a 50-year panda financing agreement with China expired.
No one could see a future in which giant pandas would return to the United States in the near future. When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco, California in November, he shocked many by saying that some pandas may soon return to the Golden State as “messengers of friendship between the Chinese and American people.” gave.
“I heard that many Americans, especially children, were very sad to say goodbye to the pandas and went to the zoo to see them off,” Xi said at a dinner during his visit. “We also learned that the San Diego Zoo and the people of California are very excited about the return of the pandas.”
“We stand ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and we stand ready to do our best to meet the wishes of the people of California to deepen the friendly relations between the peoples of our two countries,” he continued.
The program is also in talks to send pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna.
It is believed that there are currently only 1,864 giant pandas left in the world. Of these, 600 giant pandas live in captivity. However, among these pandas, only Xinxing is not owned by China.
Stay informed. Receive breaking news directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Please share this post!
