A Washington D.C. tradition since 1972 is coming to an end.
Thousands of people lined up at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C. over the weekend to get a glimpse, take pictures and say goodbye to the three beloved giant pandas — Mei Xiang, Tien Tien, and their three-year old cub Xiao Qi Ji — days before they head home to China.
Beautiful day to bid adieu to the pandas at @NationalZoo. Sadly, they will be going back to China in a few days. Caught one of them taking a very restful-looking nap. #pandas @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/zP820jtGk9
— Joe Yasharoff (@JYash) November 5, 2023
Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji will leave for China by mid-November. Make sure to plan your visit or tune in online to the Giant Panda Cam for your panda fix. 🐼 🐼 🐼🛫 https://t.co/GayMiE3riw pic.twitter.com/ngxPS76Cx7
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) October 25, 2023
The pandas have been the Zoo’s most famous animals and most popular attraction for over five decades. It is unclear if the Zoo will get any more pandas in the near future amid tensions between the U.S. and China.
The Zoo entered into an agreement in Dec. 2000 when Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the Zoo. As part of the terms of the Zoo’s current Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all three giant pandas were set to return to China by Dec. 7 when the agreement ends but that date has now. been moved up to mid-November.
For your last chance to see the giant pandas, go to https://nationalzoo.si.edu/ to reserve free tickets or to watch live on the Giant Panda Cam.
