Giant Pandas to Remain at Smithsonian's National Zoo

Giant Pandas to Remain at Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 10, 2020 3:50 pm

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian the giant pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Giant Pandas will continue to call Washington DC home for a further three years as part of a loan agreement extension agreed between Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the China Wildlife and Conservation Association (CWCA).

The giant panda has been on display at the zoo since 1972.

When this loan extension ends it is expected that the three giant pandas currently housed at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Tian Tian (23), Mei Xiang (22) and their most recent cub Xiao Qi Ji born in August will return to China.

“Our long-standing collaboration with Chinese colleagues to study, care for and save the giant panda will now pass the half-century mark,” said Steve Monfort, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “Through the power of science and cooperation, and with the support of the public and benefactors like David Rubenstein, our work on behalf of this beloved bear species continues. Along with millions of Americans, I look forward to the next three years, watching Xiao Qi Ji grow and making further strides in conservation and in our understanding of giant pandas.”

panda cub named smithsonian's national zoo

Panda cub Xiao Qi Ji will continue to call Washington DC home

Photo Credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo

The costs of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo panda program will be funded by a $3 million gift from David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group and a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents. This will bring the total he has contributed to this program to $12 million.

“Giant pandas are an incredible species that still need our help,” Rubenstein said. “Supporting the Zoo’s giant panda conservation program is very rewarding.”

This funding will support the work of the zoo’s breeding program which includes research on restoring giant panda habitat, monitoring wildlife diseases, assessing impacts of climate change and supporting more conservation capacity-building programs, upgrades to the giant panda habitat and exhibit at the Zoo, care for the pandas living at the Zoo and public education about the species and conservation.

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Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have called America home since December 6th 2000. During their time at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo they have welcomed six cubs together. These include three which have since returned to China as per their loan agreement and Xiao Qi Ji their most recent cub who currently lives at the zoo with his parents.

Currently three US zoos house giant pandas with the others being Zoo Atlanta and Memphis Zoo. The pandas at San Diego Zoo returned to China in spring 2019.

Wild pandas live for around 20 years while those in captivity may live to be 30 years old.