Black and white and bred all over: Panda diplomats
Bye bye, Baobao
People say their online farewells to 3-year-old giant panda Baobao, as the cutie prepares to return home to China on February 21.
‘Panda Dad’ China’s latest Internet celebrity
Zhang Yue, a zoo keeper at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China's Sichuan Province, achieved Internet fame for an adorable video of him feeding panda cubs went viral last year. He is regularly recognized by panda fans in China and often asked for pictures.
Life ahead of overseas-born panda back home
Giant panda Bao Bao eats dumplings specially made for her at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 16, 2017. American-born giant panda Bao Bao will arrive in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Feb. 22 night (Beijing time).
Washington D.C. bids farewell to Giant Panda Bao Bao
Giant Panda Bao Bao plays at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., the Unite States, on Feb. 16, 2017. National Zoo holds a series of online and on-site events to bid farewell to Giant Panda Bao Bao from Feb. 16 to Feb. 20 before it departs for China on Feb. 21.
Washington's National Zoo kicks off events to send off Giant Panda Bao Bao
The Smithsonian's National Zoo on Wednesday kicked off a series of public events as it prepared to send off Giant Panda Bao Bao back to China.
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| Background |
| History of panda diplomacy |
Pandas have long served as goodwill gestures from China since 685, when Empress Wu Zetian, of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), presented a pair to Japan as gifts.
By 1982, 24 Chinese giant pandas had been presented to nine countries including the former Soviet Union, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, Japan, France, Britain, Mexico, Spain and the Federal Republic of Germany.
Donations to other countries stopped in the 1980s. The only way to get a panda now is by leasing one, or through research cooperation.
| Applying for a panda |
If a foreign country wants a giant panda, step one is submitting an application, but not all applications are accepted. Climate, facilities, technology and potential panda habitat are taken into consideration. The preparations often take over a year.
When choosing pandas to go on missions abroad, a pair of hometown friends are usually chosen. Although it is an "arranged marriage", it helps breeding research.
10 year leases were the norm and all giant pandas, including babies born overseas, belong to China. Even cast hairs, blood samples, etc. should be sent back, according to the convention.
The international missions of giant pandas have benefited the world's biodiversity and wildlife protection. During the process, China shared its breeding technologies with cooperating foreign countries. Those countries made reciprocal contributions to the protection of giant pandas and their natural habitat in China.
Source: Xinhua - China.org.cn
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