Pandas attract distinguished guests, including California’s governor

SAN DIEGO – As Yun Chuan (yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (sing bao), the first giant pandas to arrive in the United States in 21 years, greeted crowds of pandamen at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, special guests made sure they were there.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who declared Thursday as Panda Day in California, was joined by Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States; Toni G. Atkins, a California state senator; Si Ping, deputy secretary general of the China Wildlife Conservation Association; Todd Gloria, mayor of San Diego; and other American and Chinese dignitaries and civic leaders.

“The bear has long held a place of honor in California as a symbol of the spirit and strength of our state, from its flag and state seal to its enduring significance to Native American tribes across the state,” Newsom said in a statement. “This week, California is proud to celebrate another iconic bear as a pair of giant pandas make their public debut at the San Diego Zoo.”

The zoo opened its Panda Ridge exhibit at noon Thursday, featuring Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in a special Chinese music and art program and an original artwork created by Shepard Fairey for the occasion.

“We are pleased to introduce Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the world,” said Paul Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

`Guests will have the opportunity to visit these extraordinary giant pandas, be inspired by their significance, learn about all the work we are doing to help protect them, together with our trusted Chinese partners, and join us in helping to protect their future.’

China withdrew nearly all of its pandas on loan to U.S. zoos about five years ago after relations between the countries soured. But cooperation between China and the U.S. has led to the possibility of pandas being returned to U.S. zoos, including San Diego.

Now this possibility has become a reality.

“Last November, President Xi Jinping announced in San Francisco that China is ready to continue cooperation with the U.S. on panda protection,” Feng said. “The arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in San Diego, as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, sent a clear and important message: China-U.S. cooperation on panda protection will not cease, our people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation will not cease, and the once-open door of China-U.S. friendship will not close again.”

Yun Chuan is a five-year-old male, recognizable by his long, slightly pointed nose. His mother, Zhen Zhen (jen jen), was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. Xin Bao is a four-year-old female, best recognized by her large, round face and large, fluffy ears.

“Welcoming these national treasures to the San Diego Zoo is a proud moment for California, and it reflects our strong partnership with China on a range of issues from climate action to economic development,” Newsom said. “By working with our international partners to protect this iconic wildlife species, we can achieve extraordinary conservation and cultural exchange outcomes that benefit our communities and our planet.”

Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived in San Diego in late June and have spent the last few weeks acclimating to the zoo and their new environment.

Panda Ridge is described as “a vast and multi-dimensional experience… inspired by famous geological formations in China, mimicking the mountain forest ecosystems where giant pandas thrive while immersing viewers in their world,” according to Erika Kohler, senior vice president and executive director of the San Diego Zoo. It is four times larger than the previous panda habitat and draws inspiration from the giant panda’s native habitats in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China.

The portrait, by Shepard Fairey, known for former President Barack Obama’s iconic “Hope” campaign poster, was unveiled Thursday morning. Titled “Friendship Across the Earth,” the portrait depicts Bai Yun — a beloved panda who lived at the zoo for more than 20 years — with the words majesty, respect and protection next to graphic depictions of a globe and patterns of bamboo and flowers.

Guests have several opportunities to see the zoo’s newest stars, including:

— Obtain a free timed ticket to the giant panda by scanning the QR codes located on signs around the zoo, selecting an available time slot and joining the Panda Ridge ticket queue at the designated time;
— joining the reserve queue from 9:30;
— secure advance reservations for an exclusive 60-minute morning panda walking tour before the zoo opens to guests for the day.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the conservation partnership between the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

Zoos typically pay a fee of $1 million per year for each panda, according to a 2022 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, which goes to conservation efforts in China.

China first gifted pandas to the United States in 1972, when two were sent to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. One of the purposes of loaning pandas to U.S. zoos was to help breed young and increase the population.

Conservation efforts have saved the giant panda from extinction by increasing its population from fewer than 1,000 to more than 1,800 individuals in the wild and in captivity. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the giant panda species from endangered to vulnerable in 2021.

To ease traffic, zoo visitors can take advantage of a free shuttle bus that will pick up and drop off passengers at the Inspiration Point car park, where parking is free.

Public transportation is recommended, and bus lanes along Park Boulevard allow buses to travel more easily. Additionally, the Metropolitan Transit System Rapid 215 and Route 7 provide direct access to the zoo. On weekends, two children 12 and younger travel free, without a pass, with each paying adult. (CNS)

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