Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the first giant pandas to enter the U.S. since 2003, made their first appearance at the San Diego Zoo last Thursday, officially taking up residence in the new Panda Ridge habitat.
It was a star-studded affair, with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng and a host of other VIPs turning up to get a glimpse of the cuddly duo. There was a special Chinese musical and artistic performance, and the event was commemorated with artwork by none other than Shepard Fairey, the artist who brought us President Barack Obama's iconic “Hope” campaign poster.
Yun Chuan—a five-year-old with a long, slightly pointy nose—and Xin Bao—a four-year-old with big, fluffy ears—have been settling into their plush new digs since June. Panda Ridge is four times larger than the previous panda habitat, with scenic vibes straight out of China’s most picturesque provinces.
This year marks 30 years of the San Diego Zoo and China working together to save these bamboo-loving bears. Thanks to their efforts, the giant panda is no longer on the endangered list. Even better, panda baby survival rates have increased from a meager 10 percent to a whopping 90 percent.
You can catch these furry new celebs by picking up a complimentary timed ticket when you arrive at the Zoo, by joining the standby line at Panda Ridge, or by booking an exclusive Early Morning with Pandas walking tour in advance. Find out more on the Zoo’s website.