Two giant pandas arrived at Zoo Atlanta on Sunday, September 27, as part of an international conservation effort and a renewed exchange between the United States and China.
The pandas, six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang, completed an 8,000-mile journey from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China, according to US media reports.
Their arrival comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues including trade and artificial intelligence. The two countries have, however, recently agreed to extend a trade pause during a state visit.
Before their international flight, the pandas underwent a month-long quarantine and training to help them adapt to loud noises and transport containers.
They travelled aboard a dedicated cargo flight dubbed the “FedEx Panda Express”, carrying fresh bamboo, water and their favourite treats.
Upon landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the pandas were escorted by police directly to the zoo.
Visitors will have to wait before seeing the new arrivals. Zoo Atlanta officials said the pandas are undergoing a standard one-month quarantine inside a secure facility at the zoo.
Zoo Atlanta is now one of three facilities in the United States housing giant pandas, following their recent return to San Diego and Washington, D.C.
The arrival follows a new 10-year loan agreement signed earlier this year, after Zoo Atlanta returned its previous panda family to China at the end of a 25-year agreement.
Under the standard terms of giant panda loan agreements, host institutions pay about $1 million (Sh129.69 million) annually to support Chinese wildlife conservation efforts. Any cubs born during the loan period remain the property of China.
Conservationists hope Ping Ping and Fu Shuang will successfully breed. While wild panda numbers have shown signs of recovery, reaching about 1,900, and the species’ conservation status has improved from “endangered” to “vulnerable”, breeding in captivity remains difficult.
Female giant pandas are fertile for only a few days each year, making successful breeding a challenge.
Wildlife experts selected Ping Ping and Fu Shuang based on their health and genetic diversity, with hopes that they will bond naturally over time