The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance recently embarked on a journey to China to meet with the giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, in anticipation of their upcoming relocation to California.
SAN DIEGO — Two giant pandas are set to travel from China to the U.S., where they will be under the care of the San Diego Zoo as part of a continuing conservation collaboration between the two countries, officials announced on Monday.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance disclosed that its caregivers had recently traveled to China to acquaint themselves with the giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, in preparation for their move to Southern California. A specific date for the transfer has yet to be finalized.
Yun Chuan, a nearly 5-year-old male known for his calm demeanor, has strong ties to California, according to the wildlife alliance. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao.
Xin Bao, a nearly 4-year-old female, is characterized as “a gentle and clever introvert with a charming round face and large ears.”
Dr. Megan Owen, the vice president of conservation science at the alliance, remarked, “Although our conservation partners in China provided us with photographs and personality traits of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, meeting them in person was an extraordinary experience. It’s truly inspiring to witness people from across the globe unite to conserve, protect, and nurture these extraordinary bears, and we eagerly await their arrival in San Diego.”
For nearly 30 years, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has collaborated with prominent conservation organizations in China to safeguard and restore giant pandas and the bamboo forests crucial to their survival.