Meet The New Pandas Coming To The San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two giant pandas are coming to the San Diego Zoo.

In anticipation of their arrival, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance leaders recently visited China to meet the zoo's soon-to-be-residents.

Yun Chuan (pronounced yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (pronounced sing bao) are expected to arrive sometime this summer in San Diego.

"It was an honor to see Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person and meet our conservation partners caring for them at the Wolong and Bifengxia Panda Bases," said Dr. Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organization that operates the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. "Yun Chuan's lineage has deep connections to the San Diego Zoo and we're excited by the prospect of caring for them."

Yun Chuan, a 4-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 3-year-old female, were born in Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, China.

Yun Chuan is already connected to the San Diego Zoo. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the zoo in 2007 . His name is a nod to his grandmother, Bai Yun, who lived at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years.

Yun Chuan is described as mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. Xin Bao is also described as a gentle, yet witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears. Her name means a "new treasure of prosperity and abundance."

"Our conservation partners in China shared photographs and personality traits of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, but meeting them in person was so special," Owen said. "It's inspiring as people from around the world come together to conserve, protect, and care for these special bears, and we can't wait to welcome them to San Diego."

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao will arrive roughly five years after the last pandas were sent back to China.

"They will become San Diego's newest residents soon," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "With them comes great joy and the opportunity to learn once again."

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a nearly 30-year conservation partnership with conservation institutions in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas.

Collaboration between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and its partners in China has contributed to "critical findings" on giant panda reproductive behavior and physiology, nutritional requirements, habitat needs and genetic research among other areas of focus, according to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. These collaborative efforts contributed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List downgrading the giant panda from endangered to vulnerable in 2021.