Nov
13

All the news that’s fit to print–about giant pandas, anyway

The National Zoo’s three giant pandas were returned safely to China last week. Their departure may have left a void in our hearts, but it certainly filled a giant news hole. We’ve collected some of the major stories about the 51-year history of giant pandas in Washington, D.C., and the future possibility of their return.

Making history

Coverage of the pandas’ departure landed on the front page of both the Washington Post and the New York Times Nov. 9. The last time this happened was the 2016 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

 

Front page of the Washington Post for Nov 9. 2023

 

Front page of New York Times for Nov 9, 2023

ABC News

Video Trio of giant pandas arrive in China from Washington’s National Zoo – ABC News (go.com)

Associated Press

National Zoo’s three celebrity giant pandas head home to China | AP News

Axios

The giant pandas are gone and D.C. is extremely unwell – Axios Washington D.C.

BBC

Sad farewells for US pandas heading back to China – BBC News

CBS News

3 D.C. zoo pandas to be returned to China – CBS News

Fox Business Network

FedEx uses FedEx Panda Express plane to bring National Zoo pandas back to China | Fox Business

The Independent

Giant pandas leave US National Zoo to return to China amid uncertainty about future exchanges | The Independent

NBC News

Giant pandas saying goodbye to Washington, D.C. and heading back to China (nbcnews.com)

New York Post

3 Chinese pandas are flying back to their homeland after spending 10 years in DC zoo (nypost.com)

The New Yorker

What Comes After Panda Diplomacy? | The New Yorker

USA Today

Emotional send off for three giant pandas as they head back to China (usatoday.com)

Voice of America

Giant Pandas Leave Washington; China Pledges Future Cooperation With US (voanews.com)

The Washington Examiner

What happens to the Smithsonian giant panda exhibit following bears’ departure? | Washington Examiner

The Washington Post

D.C.’s giant pandas may be gone, but they won’t be forgotten – The Washington Post

Unbearably sad: Pandas take to the sky, depart Washington (washingtonpost.com)

Fans of the pandas said goodbye and put their memories in a box – The Washington Post

Opinion | The National Zoo’s giant pandas were a lesson in cultural diplomacy – The Washington Post

WRC-NBC Washington

National Zoo pandas land safely in China – NBC4 Washington (nbcwashington.com)

WTOP-News Radio Washington

WATCH: DC’s former residents, giant pandas, safely land in China after 19-hour flight. Here’s what happens now – WTOP News

WTTG-Fox 5 Washington

Giant pandas land safely in China marking end of an era in DC (fox5dc.com)

Visit the National Zoo’s website for the latest on the pandas’ journey.

Three zoo keepers pose in front of pandas' Fed Ex transport crate

The Zoo team that cared for the bears on their journey to China posing next to the three specialized travel crates containing Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji. (Photo by Rosh Patel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted: 13 November 2023
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.