The bears and animal care team will be transported from China to D.C. by the Zoo's partner, FedEx, via dedicated flight and ground transportation.

\"PHOTO:
Roshan Patel/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
PHOTO: Two-year-old female giant panda Qing Bao in her habitat at Dujiangyan Base, May 17, 2024, in Sichuan, China.
>

\"It's a privilege to take part in this next phase of the [NZCBI's] giant panda program and provide the safest and most comfortable transportation for these beloved animals,\" FedEx president and CEO of Airline and International Richard W. Smith said in a statement.

This news comes just six months after giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji, went to China last November, prompting a nationwide outpouring of farewell from millions of panda fans of all ages.

\"PHOTO:
Roshan Patel/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
PHOTO: Two-year-old female giant panda Qing Bao in her habitat at Dujiangyan Base, May 17, 2024, in Sichuan, China.
>

NZCBI has maintained one of the world's foremost giant panda conservation programs over the last 50 years, which helped move the panda from \"endangered\" to \"vulnerable\" on the global list of species at risk of extinction, according to the National Zoo.

\"This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact,\" Smith said. \"Through this partnership, we have grown the panda population, advanced our shared understanding of how to care for this beloved bear and learned what's needed to protect wild pandas and preserve native habitat.\"

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