Pandas will debut at National Zoo in January

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Pandas returned to Washington, D.C. for the first time in 11 months. Three-year-old pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao flew into Washington’s Dulles Airport just before 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

About an hour-and-a-half later, a motorcade drove the pandas in specially marked FedEx trucks to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

“I was overwhelmed,” said Henrietta Rose, a longtime panda fan and a D.C. resident. “Like Jesus was coming through.”

The National Zoo had been home to pandas from China since 1972. 11 months ago, the contract expired, and the last pandas went back to China. The Smithsonian Institution, which runs the National Zoo, entered into a new agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, to bring them back.

The National Zoo said they will pay a $1 million annual fee to the CWCA to support research projects.

“We knew in our hearts that they would be back, so we kept the faith,” said Yael Krigman, who owns a bakery across the street from the zoo.

Zoo officials said the pandas will have to quarantine for about a month. Then, Qing Bao and Bao Li will make their public debut in January 2025.

“They are little creatures that motivate people, inspire people and put joy in people’s lives,” said Rose.

Dozens waited outside the National Zoo for the pandas to arrive. They said it is part of D.C.’s identity.

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