The pandas are here!
The first giant pandas to enter the United States in two decades have arrived safely at the San Diego Zoo after their 7,000-mile journey from China, zoo officials said on June 28.
However, Yun Chuan (pronounced yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (pronounced sing bao) will not be immediately viewable to the public just yet.
They will spend the next few weeks acclimating to their new home in a private habitat at the zoo while being monitored by wildlife health and care teams, the zoo said in a news release. Those wildlife experts will determine when the pandas will be ready to be viewed by the public.
While it's not clear when patrons will be able to get their first glimpse at pandas at the San Diego Zoo, it's expected to be at some point this summer, NBC News correspondent Janis Mackey Frayer reported June 26 on TODAY.
"There’s a magic that I can’t begin to explain, but you all feel it. Whenever you get an opportunity to see one up close, and you see them look back in your eyes, it’s powerful," the San Diego Zoo's Paul Baribault told Frayer on TODAY.
Baribault was part of a delegation from the zoo who were in China for the pandas' send-off.
Frayer shared on TODAY June 25 that the animals were going to be put into crates and transported via truck to an airport for their specialized flight to the U.S. from China.
"We’re always looking out for what’s best for the pandas, and so we want to make sure that nothing distracts from us just doing the best by the giant pandas," Dr. Megan Owen, vice president of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said on TODAY in the June 26 segment.
Their Chinese handler, Wang Shan, was expected to make the trip with the pandas and assist in giving them their food. He is also planning to help them settle in, now that they've reached San Diego. He said on TODAY on June 26 that he will miss the lovable pair.
"We consider them our friends," he said.
The pandas will celebrate their next birthday in San Diego. They were both born days apart in late July, and a celebration with a cake of frozen fruit and carrots is being planned.
The birthday bash may or may not be open to the public, depending on whether the pandas have finished their acclimation period in quarantine to adjust to the new climate and different food.
Experts also told Frayer that the pandas have a fondness for each other that could mean panda babies down the road.
Once the animals are situated, those who are interested in visiting them should plan accordingly: The ideal time to see them is in the morning when it hasn’t gotten too hot. Later in the day, they enjoy sleeping in the shade.
In the press release shared by the San Diego Zoo in April, Xin Bao was listed as is a nearly 4-year-old female whose name means a “new treasure of prosperity and abundance.”
“She’s incredibly playful, maybe even a bit mischievous,” Owen told TODAY.
Yun Chuan was listed as a nearly 5-year-old male panda in the April release. He was described as “mild-mannered, gentle and lovable,” with a mother named Zhen Zhen (pronounced jen jen), who was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007. The name Yun is a reference to his grandmother Bai Yun, who resided at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years, while Chuan refers to his native Chinese province.
“He is more laid back, I’d say,” Owen told TODAY.
Earlier this year, zoo officials visited the pandas in China.
“Our conservation partners in China shared photographs and personality traits of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, but meeting them in person was so special,” Owen said in a press release in April.
“It’s inspiring as people from around the world come together to conserve, protect, and care for these special bears, and we can’t wait to welcome them to San Diego,” Owen said.
Owen told TODAY in April that it’s essential to bring the animals to the U.S.
“A really important part of having them here is so that we can continue to study them and what we learn from them will contribute to the conservation of the species,” she said.
“But, also, just having the six million visitors that come through our front door every year be able to experience the giant pandas," she continued. "It’s incredibly inspiring, and it really makes them advocates for conservation. We’re working very closely with our colleagues in China and we’re going to continue to contribute to the conservation of the species in their native habitat, as well.”
The San Diego Zoo is one of a few zoos in the U.S. set to get pandas, as China ramps up so-called panda diplomacy with new rounds of conservation by sharing the animals.
However, the departure of the pandas has also drawn protest and complaints on social media in China, with people saying the country should not trust the U.S. with the animals.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced exclusively on TODAY on May 29 that it will welcome two new giant pandas from China by the end of this year, which comes after the zoo had to part with three pandas in 2023 when their loan expired. The San Francisco Zoo is also set toreceive pandas, although there is no timetable for when that will happen.
The Atlanta Zoo currently has four giant pandas, but they are expected to return to China by the end of this year.
Drew Weisholtz
Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.
Scott Stump
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