Bearly Romantic!

Two giant pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo created quite a buzz on Friday. Zookeepers are hopeful about a potential baby panda after capturing some adorable interactions between the two bears, Bao Li and Qing Bao.

In a recent video, the pair, positioned on opposite sides of what’s affectionately called the “howdy” windows, were seen “squeaking” at each other. It’s quite charming, actually.

Qing Bao, the female, made quite the impression by standing on her hind legs and placing her front paws against the mesh. Bao Li, often the more vocal of the two, seemed thrilled by the attention. Footage captured him pressing his face to the screen, and, well, the whole thing lasted almost a minute!

They exchanged some high-pitched squeals and what zookeepers describe as “throbs.” It’s kind of reminiscent of a sheep’s “baa,” but with longer trills.

Since being paired up in January, the two have drawn the zookeepers’ attention. Apparently, there were signs suggesting that Qing Bao might be entering “panda adolescence,” which is exciting.

In April, Qing Bao showed some interest by approaching the howdy window and making those cute squeaks again. Zookeepers took this as a positive sign of her affection for Bao Li.

Interestingly, Qing Bao’s name means “precious treasures,” a nod to the beautiful landscapes of China. She’s generally seen as more reserved than her male counterpart, who’s known for being more outgoing and expressive. Bao Li, whose name combines ideas of “valuable” and “strong,” often makes quite the entrance, greeting his keepers with enthusiasm.

The zookeepers are hoping this budding romance might eventually lead to panda cubs—a critical step for the conservation of the species. However, it’s worth noting that they’ll need a few more years before they’re truly ready to reproduce.

This pairing is part of an ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and China, which has been going on for over 50 years, where pandas are lent to American zoos for about a decade before returning home. Should these two successfully breed, any offspring would be sent back to China to be raised in their natural environment.

The arrangement symbolizes goodwill between the nations while aiming to conserve endangered species.

Qing Bao and Bao Li will be staying at the National Zoo until April 2034. Much of their behavior is said to mirror the traits of past pandas; for instance, Bao Li displays habits similar to those of his grandfather, Tian Tian, while Qing Bao’s mannerisms might reflect those of Bao Li’s grandmother, Mei Xiang, as she approached her own mating age, according to experts.