Zoo Atlanta has given the public an up-close first look at its new giant pandas as they settle into their new home. The zoo said Ping Ping and Fu Shuang aren’t quite ready to meet the public yet, but that will change soon.
America’s two new sweethearts arrived Sunday aboard the “FedEx Panda Express,” part of a new agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
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“This is a thrilling day for Zoo Atlanta and a historic moment for the City of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond,” Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said. “Zoo Atlanta is honored to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to see important work continue toward the conservation of giant pandas, which is the most important benefit of guarding this species.”
Zoo Atlanta is now one of only three U.S. zoos with giant pandas, joining the San Diego Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington.
More about the pandas
Male panda Ping Ping and female panda Fu Shuang were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on March 17, 2020, and Oct. 18, 2020, respectively.
Ping Ping’s name is part of a full name he and his brother received at birth, which the zoo says represents a blessing for a smooth and healthy life.
Fu Shuang’s name, meanwhile, comes from “Fu Lu,” a reference to her mother, and means happiness.
For now, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang will stay in a biosecure area of the zoo’s new giant panda complex. It’s part of a routine quarantine period that will last about a month.
Conservation partnership with China
China has long used these loans as a form of “panda diplomacy,” building ties with other countries and sometimes letting those agreements lapse when relations cool.
According to the zoo, its partnership with the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding dates back to the 1990s, supporting conservation work in both China and the U.S.
“Support from the Zoo has benefited habitat restoration, nature reserve management, and ranger support in China,” Zoo Atlanta said in a news release.
And Atlanta will have plenty of time to get to know its newest residents. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are expected to call Zoo Atlanta home for the next 10 years.
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