SAN DIEGO — For the first time in 21 years, a new pair of pandas has made their home in the United States. On Tuesday, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance unveiled the first official photos of these adorable bears.
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived in the United States from China on June 27 and have since been settling in at the zoo. It will be several weeks before the pandas are publicly viewable as they're currently acclimating in a private habitat.
"Yun Chuan is an almost five-year-old male. His mother Zhen Zhen was born in 2007 and was the fourth cub born at the San Diego Zoo. He’s identifiable by his long, slightly pointed nose and seems to be extremely comfortable whether he is exploring on the grass or climbing trees," the zoo explained.
Below: Yun Chuan, one of the two new pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
Meanwhile Xin Bao, a 4-year-old female whose name means “precious treasure of prosperity and abundance," can be recognized by her large, round face and big, fluffy ears. That, and how much she likes to sunbathe!
Below: Xin Bao, one of the two new pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
Caretakers at the zoo have been working closely with Chinese experts to ensure that the bears' dietary needs and preferences are being met.
In addition to being absolutely adorable, pandas have played a large part in international diplomacy for several decades. Since 1984, the Chinese government has leased pandas to other countries as a sign of good relations and diplomatic success. The practice gained significant popularity in the United States in 1972 following President Richard Nixon's visit to China.
Right now, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance doesn't have a date for when you can see the pandas in person. Zoo officials plan to share more information as soon as it's available. For the latest information on giant pandas, please visit sandiegozoo.org/giant-pandas.
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