ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta is set to relocate its last four giant pandas to China next month as a 25-year agreement expires.
“The departure of Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun is certainly bittersweet for Zoo Atlanta. They leave behind a significant legacy that has enriched both the local community and global understanding of panda conservation,” stated a representative from the zoo.
This transition follows last November’s return of three pandas from the National Zoo in Washington to China. Several American zoos are returning pandas as loan agreements end amid rising diplomatic tensions.
The iconic pandas were gifted to Atlanta in 1999 through a loan agreement. Twins Ya Lun and Xi Lun, born in 2016, are the youngest of seven pandas born at Zoo Atlanta since 2006. Their older siblings, including another set of twins, have already been transferred to China’s Chengdu Research Center of Giant Panda Breeding.
As the farewell approaches, Zoo Atlanta is hosting a “Panda-Palooza” event on Oct. 5 to celebrate the beloved animals and offer special activities for visitors.
