PANDAS: They’re back!
Well, not the same ones, but Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., has giant pandas again.
Giant pandas Bao Li [BOW-lee] and Qing Bao [ching-BOW] made their public debut at the Zoo on Jan. 24. In a ceremonial opening of the Asia Trail exhibit, Brandie Smith, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of NZCBI, welcomed the American public to meet the new bears, declaring the Zoo to be the “District of Panda.”
“For over 50 years, giant pandas have been an integral part of the fabric and culture of Washington, D.C., thanks in large part to the support of the communities that live and work in the District,” Smith said. “Bao Li and Qing Bao have won our hearts, and we’re excited to welcome panda fans back to the Zoo — the only place in the nation where you can see giant pandas for free — and celebrate the newest chapter of our giant panda breeding and conservation program.”
The Zoo relaunched the Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by The Boeing Company, ensuring virtual visitors could join in the celebration and welcome the animal ambassadors to Washington. The Giant Panda Cam is composed of 40 cameras operated from a central system by a corps of specially trained volunteers. The webcams broadcast from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. After 7 p.m., the day’s recording is rebroadcast to ensure virtual visitors around the world can view the animals at their most active.
Panda fans can celebrate the bears’ connection to the nation’s capital and make a direct impact on panda conservation via a collection of limited-edition “The Pandas Are Here” merchandise commemorating Bao Li and Qing Bao’s debut available online and on-site at the zoo.
