Panda Ridge, the New Home for Yun Chuan and Xin
Bao, Opens
Following Celebration Attended by US
and Chinese Dignitaries
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yun Chuan (yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (sing bao), the first pandas to enter
the United States in 21 years,
made their public debut at the San Diego Zoo today following an
opening ceremony for the Zoo's much-anticipated new Panda Ridge
habitat.
The ceremony was attended by Gavin
Newsom, governor of California; His Excellency Xie Feng, Chinese
ambassador to the United States;
Toni G. Atkins, California state senator; Si Ping, deputy
secretary general of China Wildlife Conservation Association;
Todd Gloria, mayor of San Diego; and other U.S. and Chinese
dignitaries and civic leaders. The event included a special Chinese
musical and artistic performance and the reveal of an original
Shepard Fairey artwork created to celebrate the occasion.
"We are delighted to introduce Yun
Chuan and Xin Bao to the
world," said Paul Baribault,
president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. "Guests will
have an opportunity to visit with these remarkable giant pandas, be
inspired by their importance, learn about all we do to help
conserve them alongside our trusted Chinese partners, and join us
to help protect their future."
"Last November, President Xi Jinping announced in San Francisco that China is ready to continue cooperation with
the U.S. on panda conservation," said His Excellency Xie Feng,
Chinese ambassador to the United
States. "The arrival of Yun
Chuan and Xin Bao in
San Diego as we celebrate the 45th
anniversary of our diplomatic ties has sent a clear and important
message: China-U.S. cooperation on panda conservation will not
cease, our people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation
will not stop, and, once opened, the door of China-U.S. friendship
will not be shut again."
"Welcoming these national treasures to the San Diego Zoo is a
proud moment for California that
reflects our strong foundation of partnership with China on a host of issues, from climate action
to economic development," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "Working together with our
international partners to protect this iconic wildlife species, we
can achieve remarkable outcomes for conservation and cultural
exchange, benefiting our communities and the planet."
Yun Chuan is a five-year-old
male, identifiable by his long, slightly pointed nose. His mother,
Zhen Zhen (jen jen), was born at the
San Diego Zoo in 2007. Xin Bao is a
four-year-old female, best recognized by her large, round face and
big, fluffy ears.
Since arriving in late June, the pair have been acclimating to
their new home in the reimagined Panda Ridge. Four times larger
than the previous panda habitat, the newly refreshed and expanded
Panda Ridge takes inspiration from the breathtaking, lush
landscapes in and around giant pandas' native habitats in
Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China.
An original portrait commemorating the significance of giant
pandas coming to San Diego was
created by California-based artist
Shepard Fairey, best known for creating former President
Barack Obama's iconic "Hope"
campaign poster in 2008, and unveiled at the event. Titled
"Friendship Across the Earth," the portrait features Bai Yun—the
beloved panda who lived at the San Diego Zoo for more than 20
years—with the words Majesty, Respect and Conservation alongside
graphic representations, the globe and patterns of bamboo and
flowers. Bai Yun was selected to celebrate the importance of her
legacy to giant panda conservation and represent a bridge to the
next generation.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the conservation
partnership between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and China
Wildlife Conservation Association. The collaboration has greatly
advanced giant panda conservation, leading to the downgrading of
the giant panda's status from Endangered to Vulnerable by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2016. The efforts
include developing a giant panda milk formula and other neonatal
conservation techniques that dramatically increased the survival of
nursery-reared cubs from less than 10% to over 90%, as well as
advanced reproductive techniques and the contribution of valuable
expertise to efforts led by Chinese scientists to track wild giant
pandas at the Foping National Nature Reserve using GPS technology.
The ongoing collaboration aims to further enhance the health and
resilience of giant panda populations, especially the most
vulnerable and isolated groups.
Starting today, there are three ways to experience giant pandas
at the San Diego Zoo. Visitors can obtain a complimentary Giant
Panda Timed Ticket upon their arrival at the Zoo to skip the wait,
join the standby line at Panda Ridge, or make reservations for an
exclusive, Early Morning with Pandas walking tour. Advance
reservations are currently being accepted for the walking tour.
More information about Yun Chuan and
Xin Bao, as well as how to
experience them, is available at sdzwa.org/giantpandas.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wants to thank our donors for
their continued support, especially Kenneth
C. Griffin and Peng Zhao. We
are grateful for their lead gifts, which inspire others to join
them in supporting panda conservation in San Diego and around the globe. In recognition
of their donations, we are pleased to name one of the habitats
within Panda Ridge in their honor.
About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation
leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a
healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation
science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science
expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have
been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance
reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and
San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries
through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers
television programming in children's hospitals in 14 countries.
Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success
possible.
PRESS ROOM: sdzwa.org/PR/pandas-public-debut
Link includes:
- B-roll of Yun Chuan and
Xin Bao at San Diego Zoo
- Photos of Yun Chuan and
Xin Bao at San Diego Zoo
- B-roll of Panda Ridge at San Diego Zoo
- Video of ribbon pulling ceremony at San Diego Zoo
- Photos of ribbon pulling ceremony at San Diego Zoo
- Photos of speakers including Paul
Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Wildlife
Alliance; Gavin Newsom, governor of
California; His Excellency Xie
Feng, Chinese ambassador to the United
States; Toni G. Atkins,
California state senator; Si Ping,
deputy secretary general of China Wildlife Conservation
Association; and Todd Gloria, mayor
of San Diego
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