Giant pandas headed for US

Two giant pandas are on their way from China to Washington’s National Zoo, kicking off a much-awaited return of the beloved bears to the U.S. capital.

Bao Li and Qing Bao, both 3 years old, left the giant panda research base in Dujiangyan, a city near the bears’ native habitat in the mountains of Southwest China, on Monday night local time. They boarded a specially chartered FedEx Boeing 777 cargo jet dubbed the “Panda Express” early yesterday morning local time and took off for Washington.

A cargo jet operated by FedEx transporting two giant pandas, lands at Dulles Airport in Virginia on Oct. 15. File Photo

“We have prepared corn buns, bamboo shoots, carrots, water, and medicine to ensure the pandas’ needs are met during the flight,” the China Wildlife Conservation Association said in a statement announcing the pair’s departure.

The black and white duo are the first pandas China has sent to Washington in 24 years. The previous pair returned to China with their cub last November, triggering a flood of tearful goodbyes at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Over the past 11 months, the zoo’s panda exhibit, which used to draw millions of visitors, has been left empty. Now, having just completed a million-dollar revamp, it’s counting down the hours to welcome the new tenants.

A sendoff ceremony was held earlier Monday at a hotel near the base, joined by a delegation from the Washington zoo who came to Sichuan Province to help with the transition.

While born in Sichuan, Bao Li has deep familial roots in Washington. His mother, Bao Bao, was born a celebrity at the National Zoo in 2013 and returned to China four years later. His grandparents, Meixiang and Tian Tian, lived at the zoo for 23 years until their lease ended last year. (SD-Xinhua)