End of an Era: Smithsonian National Zoo's Giant Pandas Return to China

Washington, D.C. United States of America
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the zoo in 2000 as part of an agreement with the China Wildlife and Conservation Association.
The pandas' departure coincides with worsening U.S.-China relations.
The pandas were transported in specially designed crates via FedEx trucks to Dulles International Airport, from where they were flown to Chengdu, China.
The Smithsonian National Zoo's three pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, have begun their journey back to China.

The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., has bid farewell to its three giant pandas, marking the end of a more than 50-year program of Chinese pandas being housed at the zoo. The pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, began their journey back to China on November 8, 2023.

The pandas' departure coincides with worsening U.S.-China relations. China has been known to use pandas for its major political and diplomatic needs, especially in places where it hopes to gain more influence or closer relations. The departure of the pandas leaves Zoo Atlanta as the only other U.S. zoo to feature pandas from China, with their contracts expiring next year.

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the zoo in 2000 as part of an agreement with the China Wildlife and Conservation Association. The agreement was extended several times and was set to expire on December 7, 2023. Mei Xiang has given birth to seven cubs during her time in D.C., three of whom died before adulthood and three who have already been returned to China.

The pandas were transported in specially designed crates via FedEx trucks to Dulles International Airport, from where they were flown to Chengdu, China. Their flight took 19 hours to reach the Wolong Panda Reserve in Chengdu.

Negotiations to extend the agreement have not been successful, amid speculation that Beijing is pulling its pandas from Western nations due to deteriorating diplomatic relations. However, zoo officials are confident that pandas will return to D.C. after a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the indoor panda habitat.


Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

97%

  • Unique Points
    • The National Zoo has had giant pandas since 1972, when President Richard Nixon was gifted a pair by Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong.
    • The return of the pandas was moved up to this week, but the reason for the change was not clear.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Mei Xiang has given birth to seven cubs during her time in D.C., three of whom died before adulthood and three who have already been returned to China.
    • The agreement was extended several times and was set to expire on Dec. 7, 2023.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • The pandas' departure coincides with worsening US-China relations.
    • China uses pandas for its 'major political and diplomatic needs', especially in places where it hopes to gain more influence or closer relations.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • The pandas were transported in specially designed crates via FedEx trucks to Dulles International Airport, from where they will be flown to Chengdu, China.
    • Negotiations to extend the agreement have not been successful, amid speculation that Beijing is pulling its pandas from Western nations due to deteriorating diplomatic relations.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Their flight will take 19 hours to reach the Wolong Panda Reserve in Chengdu, China.
    • Zoo officials are confident that pandas will return to D.C. after a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the indoor panda habitat.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication