Bao Li and Qing Bao: Giant Pandas Return to the National Zoo in a New Era of Conservation Partnership
After months of anticipation, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has once again welcomed giant pandas, marking the start of a new chapter in the United States’ most beloved animal diplomacy.
On October 15, 2024, two young pandas — Bao Li, a two-year-old male, and Qing Bao, a two-year-old female — arrived in Washington, D.C. from China’s Shenshuping and Dujiangyan panda bases. The pair made their public debut in January 2025, delighting visitors who had been waiting for the return of these charismatic black-and-white icons.
Their arrival wasn’t just about giving families a reason to flock to the zoo. It’s part of a longstanding conservation partnership between the United States and China, one that focuses on research, breeding, and the protection of giant pandas in the wild. With fewer than 1,900 pandas left in China’s mountain forests, every exchange helps advance scientific understanding and global collaboration.
“This is a moment of joy for our city and for conservationists worldwide,” said zoo officials during the debut event. “Bao Li and Qing Bao symbolize not just the survival of a species, but the friendships and shared goals that make conservation possible.”
The pair’s journey included weeks of careful planning — specialized transport crates, custom diets, and a quarantine period upon arrival to ensure their health. Now settled into the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, the pandas have begun exploring their outdoor yards, climbing structures, and sampling bamboo stalks.
For visitors, the excitement is undeniable. Families gathered early to watch the pandas climb, play, and nap in their new surroundings. For researchers, though, the pandas represent years of collaborative study. Bao Li and Qing Bao are expected to contribute to ongoing behavioral, reproductive, and veterinary research, strengthening knowledge that can be applied both in zoos and in the wild.
The National Zoo has a deep history with giant pandas, dating back to 1972 when the first pair arrived as a gift from China following President Nixon’s visit. Over the decades, the zoo has successfully bred several cubs, with some later returning to China to join breeding programs.
As Bao Li and Qing Bao settle in, they carry on that legacy — living proof of what international cooperation can achieve. And for the millions who will come to see them, they serve as ambassadors of conservation, reminding us that saving endangered species is a global responsibility.