San Diego’s giant pandas are the first sent to the United States in over a decade.
“Pandamonium” strikes the San Diego Zoo as China has leased two of their Giant Pandas to the newly opened Panda Ridge.
The pandas Yun Chuan, a five year old male, and Xin Bao, a four year old female, arrived in June 2024, nearly five years after the mass removal of the species in American zoos. The San Diego Zoo previously cared for the twenty seven year old panda Xiao Liwu and her son Xiao Liwu, until the zoo’s twenty three year loan agreement with the Republic of China for the pandas expired in 2019.
The male panda Yun Chuan yawns. (Photo by Morgan Ebright)
The arrival of these beloved bears was commemorated with a lavish opening ceremony that saw Mayor Todd Gloria, Governor Gavin Newsom, and San Diego Zoo president Paul Baribault celebrating the global implications that these animals carry – something that otherwise might have been lost on the massive crowds drawn to this event.
To understand the true significance of this fuzzy pair, you have to take into consideration the mass removal of pandas from American zoos over the past few years, as well as the rising global tensions that precipitated this action. More than that, it’s important to recognize the fascination that these animals have inspired among the Californian population – and what that could mean in our age of growing international turmoil.
For years, the panda exchange has mimicked rising political tensions across the globe.
Surprising as it may seem, the arrival of Xin Bao and Yun Chuan in San Diego directly reflects the tumultuous political relationship between China and the United States, one of the major reasons that pandas have been disappearing from our national zoos over the past few years.
The female panda Xin Bao.
(Photo by Morgan Ebright)
Amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington (concerning everything from international sanctions to social media manipulation), the Chinese government has steadily allowed their panda exchange agreements to expire across the U.S., with San Diego’s Giant Pandas leaving the country back in 2019. Dennis Wilder of Georgetown University went so far as to call this phenomenon “punitive panda diplomacy,” asserting that China is attempting to send a message by recalling these beloved animals from across the globe.
Even now, the return of these pandas to the San Diego Zoo seems to reflect a turning point in these torrid international relations — with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi augmenting this act of “panda diplomacy” with calls for peaceful coexistence between the United States and China.
Pandas have become an envoy of friendship between the United States and China.
The significance of Giant Pandas to our chaotic political climate is not lost to the San Diego Zoo, which has gone out of its way to emphasize how these pandas promote a sense of global connection and cultural curiosity.
For instance, consider the zoo’s decision to complement the giant panda’s arrival with artwork by Shepard Fairey (the artist who famously created Barack Obama’s “Hope” poster), who crafted a new portrait titled “Friendship Across The Earth.” The portrait depicts the beloved Bai Yun, a panda who lived in the San Diego Zoo for two decades, and the zoo’s website reports that the piece is meant to “ignite inspiration and connect us to what really matters—protecting the planet we all share.”
The art by Shepard Fairey
(Photo courtesy of the San Diego Zoo’s website)Even the Chinese President Xi Jinping has even commented on how these pandas have created bonds that transcend our political turmoil, calling them “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.” By framing the panda exhibit in the light of global connectivity and conservation, the San Diego Zoo has wisely capitalized on these creatures’ ability to bring us together – transforming their panda exhibit into a meaningful, one-of-a-kind experience.
Visiting the Panda Ridge is an experience far beyond a typical zoo exhibit.
When I visited the San Diego Zoo, it was abundantly clear that most attendees had taken this message to heart, as these new pandas were far and away the busiest attraction.
It was inspiring to see Americans recognize the importance of the pandas’ presence, lining up to catch a glimpse of these furry friends that symbolize hope for better global relations. Although the line to see Yun Chuan and Xin Bao takes thirty minutes or longer may seem pointless, I can tell you that it was worthwhile.
When I reached the enclosure, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao were incredibly active and playful. Pandas tend to be asleep for most of the day, but at the San Diego Zoo they were very lively – perhaps due to the zoo’s rigorous collaboration with Chinese experts, accounting for specific dietary needs, and health and mobility initiatives within their unique enclosure. Seeing the panadas was well worth the wait, and I recommend going to see them before they are possibly taken away again. The pandas can also be seen on a Panda Cam on the San Diego Zoo’s website, where you can watch their activity live from your device.
Yun Chuan walking around his enclosure
-Photo taken by Morgan Ebright
Xin Bao lounging in her enclosure
-Photo taken by Morgan Ebright
Regardless of whether you visit in person or through your phone screen, it’s important to take a second to admire the true meaning of this exhibit: considering the power that animals can have in uniting us across borders, and how these remarkable creatures signal a long-awaited mending of our global relationships.
