Pandas Return to DC: New Pair Arrives at National Zoo
Pandas Return to DC: New Pair Arrives at National Zoo
The Facts
The three-year-old pandas are part of a new 10-year agreement between the United States and China, with the zoo paying $1 million annually for conservation efforts.A new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, ending an 11-month panda absence at the National Zoo.
Bao Li has familial ties to the National Zoo, as his mother Bao Bao was born there in 2013, and his grandparents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian lived at the zoo for 23 years.The 3-year-old pandas are part of a new 10-year agreement between the US and China, with the zoo paying $1 million annually for conservation efforts. This comes after the previous US-China deal ended last year, leading some to believe China would withhold future panda visits amid rising tensions between the two nations.
The Spin
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These panda exchanges cause more harm to the animals than benefits, all in the name of prestige and financial boosts for the US zoos. China has removed far more pandas than it has released, and keeping them in captivity lowers the likelihood of them mating and does nothing to improve their genetic diversity. It's important to further consider the ethical implications of these programs.
