සැන් ඩියේගෝ සත්වෝද්‍යානයට අලුතෙන් පැන්ඩා සතුන් දෙදෙනෙක්

Two Chinese giant pandas arrive in U.S. California, wowing visitors in San Diego

After a 20-year absence, two giant pandas arrived in San Diego on Thursday, marking the start of a 10-year conservation project between China and the United States.

The giant pandas will reside at the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of America's largest and most popular conservation centers. This historic journey has sparked a wave of excitement among San Diego residents and visitors alike, many eager to catch a glimpse of these beloved bears.

Although the adorable bears are eagerly anticipated by the public, they will undergo a minimum 30-day quarantine period to ensure they adapt to their new environment.

Headlining the zoo's future attractions are the three-year-old female Xin Bao and the four-year-old male Yun Chuan, who has a special connection to San Diego, as his mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at this same zoo back in 2007.

Two giant pandas departed from Ya'an City in southwest China's Sichuan Province for the United States on June 26, embarking on a 10-year international giant panda protection program.

While the primary objective of the project is the conservation of pandas, it also holds significant educational value. The presence of these iconic creatures in the U.S. is expected to contribute to the local economy and promote awareness about wildlife conservation.

Once considered endangered species, pandas are endemic to China, and their placement in foreign zoos goes beyond the conservation efforts. It is also a symbol of friendship. Experts say the move signals the resumption of panda diplomacy, which began after U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing in 1972.

"This is a real signal, along with the efforts to increase tourism, to increase student exchanges. All of these are vital signals from China to the world that they favor engagement, that the Chinese leadership and that the Chinese people are very much in favor of fostering these direct ties," said Clayton Dube, director of U.S.-China Institute of the University of Southern California (USC).

The fluffy envoys coming to San Diego are only the first of several that are expected to arrive in a number of U.S. cities, including Washington D.C. later this year.

• Tags:
• featured