We now know when you’ll be able to see Qing Bao and Bao Li, the giant pandas that will be the National Zoo’s next superstars. Mark your calendar for January 24, 2025.
The pandas that arrived Tuesday morning via FedEx’s Panda Express from the southwestern Chinese city of Dujiangyan have their public debut on January 24, and zoo members will be able to see them from January 10 to 19.
Qing Bao and Bao Li will be in DC until April 2034 as part of a conservation program that lets the pandas stay in the U.S.
Bao Li, whose name means “treasure” and “energetic” in Mandarin, is related to pandas that previously lived in DC. His mother, Bao Bao, was born at the National Zoo in 2013, and his grandparents are Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Qing Bao is slightly younger, and her name means “green” and “treasure.”
Making an Entrance
The plane carrying the 3-year-old pandas touched down at Washington Dulles International Airport before 10 a.m. A crew of workers wearing neon yellow vests that said, “FedEx Panda Team,” unloaded the first of the pandas, Qi Bao, at 10:20 a.m. and the second, Bao Li, at 10:24 a.m.
It’s a beautiful day to greet our newest Pandas! Welcome to DC, Qing Bao and Bao Li!! pic.twitter.com/30tTIzj372
— Dulles Airport (IAD) (@Dulles_Airport) October 15, 2024
Two FedEx trucks with a police escort left the airport at 10:45 a.m. for the National Zoo.
The giant pandas arrived at the DC zoo to a cheering crowd.
Headed for Quarantine
The giant pandas are undergoing a 30-day quarantine, during which the panda habitat at the zoo will remain closed. This reduces the risk of disease and parasites and allows the pandas to adjust to their new surroundings.
“During this period, animals have access to indoor enclosures and behind-the-scenes areas for several weeks. A team of keepers, nutritionists and veterinarians care for the animals and monitor their health. Meanwhile, staff provide the animals with a variety of species-appropriate enrichment items to keep them active and engaged with their surroundings,” the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute said on its FAQ page about its two new residents.
Getting Ready for Panda Fans
Huge crowds are expected at the zoo in January, so the facility said it is “working to ramp up operations” for what’s typically an off-peak time. This includes more staffers, training volunteers to run the new panda cam system, and updating walkways and signs at the zoo. The Giant Panda Cam, a live stream made possible by 40 cameras the volunteers operate, goes live after the pandas meet the public.
The zoo made a number of renovations after the last giant pandas left a year ago.
The pandas’ interior habitat was modernized, with new ventilation and temperature control, as well as an upgraded smoke evacuation network. The pandas have new climbing structures, water features, and rockwork so they can play.
Outside, they have new multi-level climbing structures and cooling features. “Added rockwork and perimeter fencing brings a new level of safety and security for pandas and visitors alike,” the zoo said.
Planning a Zoo Visit?
Seeing the giant pandas is free at the National Zoo, but you do need entry passes and parking passes. Those can be reserved online. A limited number of same-day passes will be available at the zoo. Parking will cost $30. Members do not need passes and can walk in with their member cards. Zoo memberships start at $74.
Feature image courtesy FedEx Photography
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