What's Black And White And Loved All Over? Giant Pandas Celebrate 50 Years At National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — Wednesday is National Panda Day and what better way to celebrate it than to visit in-person or online the giant panda family at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C.

The National Zoo is celebrating the holiday by launching a series of virtual and in-person events highlighting its pandas though Aug. 27.

All of this is in preparation of the National Zoo's big celebration on April 16, which marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 arrival from China of its first pair of giant pandas, female Ling-Ling and male Hsing-Hsing.

“After 50 years, giant pandas remain an iconic species for our Zoo,” said Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, in a release. “More importantly, they represent how great conservation outcomes can be achieved through great partnerships with our Chinese colleagues. Being able to introduce hundreds of millions of people worldwide to pandas and inspiring them to care about their conservation for five decades, coupled with our scientific breakthroughs, is a milestone truly worth celebrating.”

The following is a list of the events happening online or at the National Zoo celebrating the giant pandas. More details are available on the Zoo’s website.

• March 16: Visitors to the National Zoo can enjoy the new Giant Panda Family Tree Photo Gallery located at the giant panda exhibit. It highlights the zoo's successful giant panda breeding program, which is helping to extend the animals' survival in China.
• April 7: National Head Start will be taking a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
• April 8: Pandaversary: 50 Years of Conservation and Cuteness collection. A selection of limited-edition merchandise commemorating the Giant Panda 50th Anniversary will go on sale for a limited time. Proceeds from the sales will support animal and conservation programs at the Smithsonian and the National Zoo.
• April 16 and 17: “The Miracle Panda,” the Smithsonian Channel’s documentary on the Zoo’s giant panda program, will be screened for a limited time at the Zoo’s Visitor Center Theater. The screening will be free and open to the public.
• April 16: Pandaversary. Visitors can enjoy lion dance performances, panda-shaped Bao buns and calligraphy demonstrations, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., courtesy of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Visitors will have a chance to speak with the Zoo’s scientists who study giant panda biology and ecology, while pandas receive special enrichment treats.
• April 17: Pandaversary: Dong Xi, a musical collaboration between award-winning percussionist Tom Teasley and renowned Chinese dulcimer artist Chao Tian, will perform from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. As part of the celebration, the zoo’s giant pandas will also be given enrichment treats.
• April 21: Celebrating 50 Panda-mazing Years: The experts behind the pandas will be presenting a panel-format program, sharing what it takes to study, raise and care for giant pandas.

Panda lovers can always see what 24-year-old male Tian Tian, 23-year-old female Mei Xiang and their 18-month-old male cub Xiao Qi Ji are up to by via the Giant Panda Cam.