Giant Pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao Debut at Smithsonian National Zoo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, will make their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, marking a significant moment for panda enthusiasts and conservation efforts. The pandas arrived in the U.S. from China in mid-October 2024 and have since been acclimating to their newly renovated habitat.

The National Zoo, which offers free admission, has been preparing the pandas for their public debut by gradually exposing them to the sights and sounds of crowds. Zoo members have visited the enclosure to help the pandas adjust, and zookeepers report that the bears have been enjoying ample supplies of bamboo.

Bao Li, a 3-year-old male, is the son of Bao Bao, who was born at the National Zoo in 2013. He is described as playful and attention-seeking, while Qing Bao, a female, is more reserved and independent. The zoo has provided tips for visitors to distinguish between the two pandas, noting that Bao Li is larger in size.

The return of pandas to the National Zoo follows a period of uncertainty after the previous pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, were returned to China in November 2023. The 11-month gap between their departure and the arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao raised concerns about the future of panda diplomacy, a longstanding conservation partnership between the U.S. and China.

Panda diplomacy began in 1972 when the National Zoo became the first in the U.S. to host pandas from China. Over the decades, China has lent pandas to zoos worldwide, but recent years saw some agreements not being renewed. However, the arrival of Bao Li and Qing Bao, along with pandas sent to California and Spain, has reaffirmed the continuation of this diplomatic tradition.

To celebrate the pandas’ return, the National Zoo is hosting events through Feb. 9, including a screening of “Kung Fu Panda” in the Visitor Center Theater. For those unable to visit in person, the zoo’s panda cam is expected to relaunch on Friday, allowing fans to watch the bears from afar.

The pandas’ arrival in October 2024 was met with excitement, as a police-escorted motorcade brought them to the zoo. Their return has been a source of joy for panda lovers, who eagerly await their public debut.