Pandas Arrive At San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA — Pandas have returned to the San Diego Zoo.

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the first giant pandas to enter the U.S. in 21 years, have arrived safely in San Diego, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced Friday.

The pair will spend the next several weeks acclimating to their new home in a private habitat at the San Diego Zoo. They won't be viewable to the public during this time.

They are being monitored closely by wildlife health and care teams who will determine when the pair are ready to meet the public.

Yun Chuan is an almost 5-year-old male. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in 2007 and was the fourth cub born at the San Diego Zoo. Xin Bao is a nearly 4-year-old female.

Earlier this week, a delegation of representatives from the U.S., including leaders of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, joined dignitaries and conservation leaders in China at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Sichuan province for a farewell ceremony honoring the two pandas that were going to the San Diego Zoo.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo," Paul Baribault, president and chief executive officer of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said at the time.

"This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts," he said. "Our longstanding partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species."

Also see:

• Giant Pandas Could Soon Return To San Diego Zoo
• Meet The New Pandas Coming To The San Diego Zoo