Most guests know the way well-known the San Diego Zoo is, however I’m always requested one specific query.
Does the San Diego Zoo presently have pandas? Till now, the reply has been no as a result of our most up-to-date set of well-known black and white bears returned to China in 2019. Quick-forward 5 years, and we now have some thrilling information: Pandas are returning to the San Diego Zoo!
They’re Coming Again?
Two pandas arrived safely from China and can spend a while acclimating earlier than being seen by Zoo friends. They’re Yun Chuan, an almost-five-year-old male, and a feminine panda named Xin Bao, who’s about to show 4 years previous.
Yun Chuan has a particular hyperlink to the San Diego Zoo. He’s the son of Zhen Zhen, born there in 2007 to folks Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Xin Bao was born within the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base. (We’ve been to the previous Wolong Hetaoping Panda Base, which was destroyed within the 2008 Chengdu earthquake.)
The Zoo has lengthy partnered with Wolong to check panda copy and parenting. Because of this, panda births have elevated throughout the final decade, elevating them from an endangered to susceptible standing.
Let’s be taught extra concerning the Zoo’s cute new panda pair.
Welcome, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao
The brand new San Diego Zoo arrivals are the primary pandas to enter the USA in 21 years. It’s fairly a momentous event. Earlier than they launched into their journey a couple of days in the past, a farewell ceremony occurred on the China Conservation & Analysis Middle for Large Pandas in Sichuan province (which we now have additionally visited a couple of instances). It was attended by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance President and CEO Paul Baribault and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
As soon as the pandas arrive safely in San Diego and acclimate to their new environment, the general public may have the prospect to welcome them in particular person. There’s no confirmed date but, however a Fall 2024 debut is probably going.
Yun Chuan’s first identify honors his grandmother, Bai Yun, who lived on the San Diego Zoo for over twenty years. He’s identified to be mild-mannered, mild, and lovable—the whole lot we anticipate from these large, gracious creatures.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance describes Xin Bao as a delicate and witty introvert with a candy spherical face and massive ears. Her identify aptly interprets as a ‘new treasure of prosperity and abundance.’
The joyful return of large pandas to the San Diego Zoo coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the vastly profitable conservation partnership between the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and China Wildlife Conservation Affiliation. And what a solution to rejoice!
The continuing collaboration has resulted within the improvement of groundbreaking reproductive and neonatal conservation methods which have drastically improved the survival charges of nursery-reared cubs, together with the event of a large panda milk system. The survival fee was as soon as lower than 10% and has now elevated to over 90%.
This makes Yun Chuan and Xin Bao’s arrival much more particular. We are going to preserve you up to date as we be taught extra.
Historical past of the San Diego Zoo Large Pandas
San Diego Zoo’s popularity as a large panda haven dates again a number of a long time. The primary pandas — Basi and Yuan Yuan — didn’t arrive in San Diego till 1987.
It was presupposed to be a brief 100-day go to. Nonetheless, the pandas drew a whopping two million viewers. They ended up staying twice as lengthy.
However that wasn’t the tip of San Diego’s panda story. Bai Yun (beginner Yun Chuan’s grandmother) and Shi Shi arrived in 1996.
The preliminary settlement concerned, because the Zoo web site explains, “a variety of crimson tape and tons of software paperwork,” leading to a twelve-year mortgage from the Chinese language authorities. The mortgage was prolonged twice, and Bai Yun lived on the Zoo for 23 years, because of her success as a panda mother.
The San Diego Zoo developed a particular Large Panda Analysis Station habitat to accommodate the pandas. You may nonetheless see it within the Asian Passage part of the Zoo.
See additionally: The Sudden Origins of San Diego Zoo
Younger Pandas Born on the San Diego Zoo
The primary panda cub born at San Diego Zoo was named Hua Mei (translation: China USA) in 1999. Conceived through synthetic insemination, she was additionally the primary panda born within the U.S. to outlive to maturity.
She was such an enormous deal and the rationale that individuals like me visited the San Diego Zoo frequently. Watching her evolve from a wide-eyed child to an grownup, tumbling across the enclosure, was a pleasure.
The primary panda cub is at all times particular.
Nonetheless, Shi Shi and Bai Yun weren’t enthusiastic matches, partially as a result of Shi Shi was older than specialists initially predicted. So, he returned to China, and in 2003, Gao Gao changed Shi Shi as Bai Yun’s mate.
It was a match. Bai Yun gave start to 5 extra cubs: Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Yun Zi, and Xiao Liwu. (Bear in mind, Zhen Zhen is our new arrival, Yun Chuan’s mom).
These younger pandas had been welcomed into the world with nice pleasure from Zoo workers and guests alike.
Large Panda Conservation Program Successes
When San Diego’s large pandas first grew to become long-term zoo residents in 1996, the species was endangered within the wild.
Researchers had lengthy hoped to extend numbers however repeatedly bumped into roadblocks when breeding pandas in captivity.
The San Diego Zoo labored carefully with specialists from China through its Large Panda Conservation Program to handle these points. This initiative made the many of the Zoo’s entry to pandas, utilizing in-depth analysis to uncover crucial fertility and copy points.
Beneath the steering of the Large Panda Conservation Program, panda cub survival charges shortly improved. Intensive analysis highlighted the necessity for twin swapping amongst cubs, plus higher-quality milk system for panda newborns. These efforts have made it potential to supply extra newborns and preserve younger pandas alive.
Researchers on the San Diego Zoo shortly shared this data with their companions in China and different U.S. zoos and amenities worldwide.
This system’s long-term success can arguably be attributed to this worldwide focus. You may learn extra about it on the Zoo’s Science weblog.
Why Did the Pandas Go away San Diego?
The reality is that the pandas had been by no means anticipated to remain right here ceaselessly. In 2019, Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu represented the tip of that mortgage program, which had already been prolonged a number of instances.
The panda departure was marked by what director Dwight Scott known as a “becoming celebration” that included a “huge thanks to the Chinese language individuals for his or her continued partnership and our mixed conservation accomplishments in serving to to save lots of this superb species.”
Former San Diego Zoo panda keeper Dallas Dumont explains: “We knew once we began this system that they weren’t our bears and that they wouldn’t be staying… China believes in having their animals retire again of their nation.”
Skeptics query this stance, because the pandas stayed gone the unique settlement. The Smithsonian Nationwide Zoo deputy director Brandie Smith vehemently denies diplomacy issues are concerned, explaining that the same lack of the D.C. zoo’s panda diplomat Bei Bei will in the end show most useful for all events concerned.
Which makes the arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao at San Diego Zoo all of the extra particular.
Who Else Lives within the Asian Passage at San Diego Zoo
Regardless of saying goodbye to its beloved large pandas, the San Diego Zoo continues its panda-oriented conservation efforts. Till our new pandas arrive and are able to be loved by the general public, you may stroll by way of the Asian Passage.
Animals within the Asian PAssage
Don’t overlook concerning the crimson pandas! They presently occupy the previous large panda habitat within the Asian Passage part of the Zoo. Right here is who you may see within the Asian Passage as you stroll by way of it:
We love the soft-serve ice cream at Hua Mei Cones! It’s adjoining to the Hua Mei Cafe — each had been named for the primary panda cub born on the Zoo.
What Different Zoos Have Pandas?
For those who love large pandas, you may stand up shut and private with them on the Zoo Atlanta Panda Pagoda. It’s the one zoo in America that presently homes pandas. San Diego Zoo would be the second.
Tip: Check out archival footage of San Diego Zoo pandas.
Save Cash on Tickets
The San Diego Zoo has at all times been considered one of Southern California’s most iconic sights, even earlier than the joyful return of the pandas.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the sister park 45 minutes north of the Zoo in Escondido, additionally affords quite a few alternatives for connecting with nature.
Cease by both vacation spot (or each!) to find the sheer pleasure of being surrounded by wildlife. There’s no higher solution to spend a pleasant day in San Diego.
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