According to AP, Bao Li and Qing Bao - two 3-year-old pandas - are strong enough to leave the reserve in Dujiangyan city in southwestern China and are ready for a trip to Washington D.C (USA).
A variety of food items were prepared for the two pandas’ trip to the US, including corn bread, bamboo, carrots, medicines and drinks. Experts believe that this will strengthen the friendship between the people of the two countries and contribute to the protection of the world’s biodiversity.
The exact time of arrival of the two pandas in the US is unknown, however, after leaving the flight, they will undergo a period of quarantine and acclimatization before being introduced to the public.
According to the National Zoo in the US, Bao Li and Qing Bao will be in the US before the end of 2024. The announcement and many information about the two bears have been prominently posted on the official website of the National Zoo in the US for many days now.
Bao Li and Qing Bao will stay in the US for about the next 10 years, according to China's policy.
China will also send three more experienced experts to assist in the transportation process and accompany the pandas.
The agreement between the two sides remains unclear from what happened 10 years ago: The loan cost is $1 million per panda, and any cubs born during the loan must be returned to China before they turn four years old.
Pandas have been a familiar sight in Washington, D.C. since 1972. The first pair of pandas - Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing - were a gift from Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai after the 37th US President Richard Nixon made a diplomatic visit. Since then, a series of 10-year panda exchange agreements have been signed.
