Chinese giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang made their public debut on Friday at Zoo Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia.
Before meeting the public, the panda pair spent more than a month in quarantine, adjusting to the new bamboo, new caretakers and new environment.
On the morning of the debut, a class of young students had the opportunity to become some of the first members of the public to view the bears.
"We were the first. We landed there because we're here for a field trip. So we got in before it opened to the public. So we were at the African Savannah area and we started walking over and we were the first people to get in here," said one of the students.
Local residents of all ages were eager to see the pair after two years without having pandas at the zoo.
"We just happened to look up and see that the pandas would be here the next day. So we had to come by and see them," said a senior visitor.
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in the southern U.S. city on a chartered flight on September 27, marking the return of Chinese giant pandas after nearly two years. The last pair of giant pandas and their offspring returned to China from Zoo Atlanta in October 2024.
The new pandas are expected to stay at the zoo for 10 years.
"It's exciting. It's great to get to see the pandas back here and it makes everybody happy," a visitor said.
To ensure the bears are properly looked after, experts from China work together with American caretakers each day. Each aspect of their care must be carefully planned, from regular health checks to preparing bamboo meals.
Zoo Atlanta has also upgraded and renovated the panda enclosure.
"We have made the outside habitats also much nicer with more new plantings and new climbing structures. Inside there are some new materials that are very good for the pandas, for their animal welfare and well-being," said Gina Ferrie, vice president of collections and conservation at Zoo Atlanta.
Over more than 30 years, China and the United States have achieved a series of important results in giant panda conservation cooperation. This cooperation has also helped enhance friendship between the two peoples and brought more Americans closer to China, as they come to know and understand the country through their love of giant pandas.
China and Zoo Atlanta have collaborated on giant panda conservation research for more than two decades since 1999, including the birth of seven giant panda cubs in five litters.
"I know it makes my daughter want to learn more about where the pandas come from. I absolutely think so. Like I said, I think it's wonderful for our diplomacy," said a visitor.
Chinese giant panda pair make public debut at Zoo Atlanta
