Bye Bye, Bei Bei: Panda Leaves National Zoo on Tuesday
WASHINGTON, DC — Tuesday will be giant panda Bei Bei’s last day in Washington, D.C.
All pandas born at the National Zoo must return to their native land of China once they reach 4 years of age as part of an agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Now it’s time for Bei Bei, who turned 4 earlier this year, to do the same.
“The majority of giant pandas under human care live in China, and the best genetic matches for Bei Bei to breed with as an adult live at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda’s (CCRCHP) bases,” according to a statement from the zoo.
The National Zoo had a big “Bye Bye, Bei Bei” event over the weekend, giving locals one more chance to glimpse the panda. The zoo staff also compiled a list of their favorite moments in Bei Bei’s life, from his first foods to his first steps.
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Panda keepers are hard at work to prepare him for the move, which includes acclimating him to the travel crate in order to minimize stress on his journey.
One panda keeper and one veterinarian will accompany Bei Bei on his trip. They will ride in a dedicated FedEx B777 aircraft to Chengdu, China.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists giant pandas as “vulnerable” in the wild, with an estimated 1,800 individuals. Scientists at the National Zoo and in China are studying panda reproduction and health, and are working to reintroduce these pandas into the wild.
“Bei Bei is part of our family,” Steve Monfort, John and Adrienne Mars director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, said in a statement. “Our team has cared for him, learned from him and, along with millions, loved watching him grow. We’re sad he’s leaving, but excited for the contributions he will make to the global giant panda population. Bei Bei is an ambassador for conservation and part of a 47-year program that proves bringing species and habitats back from the brink is possible through global cooperation.”