Deal Reached with China Ensuring Giant Pandas “will continue to live at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo through the end of 2020”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Lorie Shaull

From the Smithsonian’s National Zoo:

“Giant pandas, which have been icons and ambassadors for the efforts to save the species in Washington, D.C., since 1972, will continue to live at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo through the end of 2020. The new breeding agreement signed by Zoo Director Dennis Kelly and Li Qingwen, deputy secretary general of the China Wildlife and Conservation Association (CWCA), will take effect Dec. 7, 2015, through Dec. 7, 2020.

The terms of the agreement are exactly the same as the current one, stipulating that the National Zoo and CWCA will conduct cooperative research projects, the Zoo will pay $500,000 per year to support conservation efforts in China and any cubs born at the National Zoo may stay until the age of 4. Both parents and any offspring remain under the ownership of China. In addition to adults Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN), the Zoo is home to 2-year-old Bao Bao (BOW-BOW) and 3-month-old Bei Bei (BAY-BAY).

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have lived at the National Zoo since Dec. 6, 2000. Both pandas were born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong from parents that were born in the wild. Mei Xiang, which means “beautiful fragrance,” is 17 years old, and Tian Tian, meaning “more and more,” is 18 years old. Tai Shan (tie-SHON), their first cub, was born July 9, 2005, and has lived in China since February 2010.

Giant pandas, which have been icons and ambassadors for the efforts to save the species in Washington, D.C., since 1972, will continue to live at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo through the end of 2020. The new breeding agreement signed by Zoo Director Dennis Kelly and Li Qingwen, deputy secretary general of the China Wildlife and Conservation Association (CWCA), will take effect Dec. 7, 2015, through Dec. 7, 2020. “