Xi announces two pandas heading to Atlanta Zoo

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Thursday that two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will arrive at Zoo Atlanta "in a few days," marking a new chapter in the tradition of "panda diplomacy" during his state visit to the United States. The announcement was made at a White House ceremony, where Xi called the panda "an envoy of friendship" between the two nations. Zoo Atlanta, which previously housed pandas from 1999 to 2024, confirmed an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to host the two bears but declined to provide further details on their arrival date. China retains ownership of all pandas worldwide, leasing them to international zoos, a practice that began in 1957 and shifted from gifting to leasing in 1984 due to population concerns. The arrival follows recent panda placements at other U.S. zoos, including Washington, D.C., and San Diego, after gaps in their presence. Pandas are no longer classified as endangered but remain "vulnerable," with roughly 1,800 living in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.