According to the WeChat public account 'Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base', giant pandas 'Pingping' and 'Fushuang' safely arrived at the Atlanta Zoo in the United States at 8:55 AM local time on September 27th (20:55 Beijing time on September 27th).
After the chartered flight landed, veterinarians and keepers from China and the US conducted a joint inspection, and both giant pandas were found to be in good health. After going through quarantine and customs procedures, they were transferred to Atlanta Zoo for isolation quarantine. Chinese veterinarians and keepers will be stationed at the zoo for three months to take care of the two giant pandas during their isolation quarantine period. They will carry out stress adaptation and behavioral training to help the pandas quickly adapt to the new environment. During the isolation quarantine period, the public can learn about the living conditions of the two giant pandas through the WeChat official accounts of the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Raymond Kim, the director of Atlanta Zoo, said: "Today is a day that fills Atlanta Zoo with excitement. We warmly welcome Pingping and Fushuang, and we share this joy with great enthusiasm. Atlanta Zoo will cooperate with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to continue promoting the work of giant panda conservation."
Gina Ferell, deputy director of the Atlanta Zoo, said that the zoo has upgraded its facilities and made preparations in all aspects. She hopes that after more than a month of adaptation, the giant pandas will be able to meet visitors officially.
According to reports by CCTV News and Xinhua News Agency, the giant panda 'Pingping' is male. It was born on March 17, 2020. Its eyes are large and dark, making it highly recognizable. It has a sturdy build and is agile in movement. It is particularly good at climbing trees and often rests among the branches.
The giant panda "Fushuang" is female. She was born on October 18, 2020. She has a small tuft of fluffy hair on her head, and her forehead is plump and slightly protruding. She has a rounder appearance and is highly responsive. She has a strong ability to find food, and can quickly locate the enrichment food hidden by the caregivers.
The cooperation between China and Atlanta Zoo for the protection of giant pandas has a history of 25 years, and a series of significant achievements have been made. The two parties have jointly carried out more than 30 special scientific research projects, published over 50 academic papers, and achieved several technological breakthroughs in fields such as giant panda breeding and rearing, behavioral studies, and disease prevention and control.
In 1999, the giant pandas “Lun Lun” and “Yang Yang” arrived at the Atlanta Zoo to start their cooperation. By the end of 2024, a total of 5 litters with 7 cubs were born. This represents the best achievement in international breeding cooperation between China and Europe and America through giant pandas. Currently, all 9 giant pandas have returned to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.
This time, the giant pandas "Pingping" and "Fushuang" will go to the United States to start a ten-year cooperation on giant panda conservation. Both sides will further deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as giant panda breeding and reproduction, disease prevention and control, scientific research, public education, as well as the protection of wild populations and habitats.
