Currently, besides China, only eight oversea countries have pandas in the world. Singapore and UK will be the next two countries to have pandas in their zoos.
America: United States, Mexico |
The "panda diplomacy" with the United States was started when China sent the first panda couple, Ling Ling and Xing Xing, to the National Zoological Park in Washington as a gift in 1972. In the United States, people can visit pandas from the following four zoos: ? San Diego Zoo of California received the first panda in 1996 during the joint research program, now it's the home of female Bai Yun and male Gao Gao, and male?Yun Zi. Four pandas, Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, and Zhen Zhen have move back to China in 2004, 2007 and 2010. ??US National Zoo, Washington, D.C. – home of femal Mei Xiang and male Tian Tian. ??Zoo Atlanta is home to three pandas: female Lun Lun and male Yang Yang, their offspring Xi Lan and the new born baby panda Po.?Their another cub female Mei Lan came back to China in 2010. ??Memphis Zoo is home of female Ya Ya and male Le Le. Mexico Chapultepec Zoo of Mexico has had one of the most successful panda-breeding programs outside of China, with a total of seven giant pandas conceived in the zoo since the first pandas Bei Bei and Ying Ying arrived in Mexico in 1975. Now it's the home of female Xiu Hua, born on June 25, 1985, female Shuan Shuan, born on June 15, 1987, and male Xin Xin, born on July 1, 1990. |
Europe: Germany, Austria, Spain |
In Europe, visitors can see pandas in the three countries: ? Zoo Berlin is home to Bao Bao, a male born in 1978. ??Vienna's Sch?nbrunn Zoo is home to Fu Hu, born in August 2010. His parents, Yang Yang and Long Hui had been at the zoo since March 2003. ??The only other pandas in Europe can be found at Madrid's zoo and aquarium. The zoo is home to two female pandas: Hua Zui Ba and Bing Xing, as well as their new born baby panda twins. ??The UK-based Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has become the latest to draw the ire of activists after it signed a panda research agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association on February 10.? |
Asia: Japan, Thailand |
Japan The joint research program started in Japan from 1994, when the panda couple Mei Mei and Yong Ming arrived in western Japan's Wakayama prefecture. ??Now the Adventure World of Wakayama is home to Ei Mei (M), and Rau Hin (F). It also has three new born twins, Aihin and Meihin born in 2006, Meihin and Eihin born in 2008, and Kaihin and Youhin, new born in 2010. ??Oji Zoo, Kobe, Hyōgo is the home of Tan Tan. The zoo's another star panda, 14-year-old Xing Xing, also known as Kou Kou,?dies here Japan during sperm collection in September 2010. Now a new pair of pandas Xian Nu and Bi Li being loaned by China to Japan arrived in Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on Feb.22, 2011, raising hopes that the animals may help improve bilateral ties. It also hopes to gain more visitors in the park since Ling Ling's death in 2008. Japan will pay China $9.5 million in total for having the two pandas over the next 10 years. Thailand Chiang Mai Zoo is home to Chuang Chuang (M), Lin Hui (F), and Lin Bing, a female cub born May 27, 2009. Also, River Safari, Singapore's new park is waiting for two pandas' arriving in 2012.? |
Australia |
Adelaide Zoo is home to Australia's only giant pandas, Wang Wang and Funi, arrived on November 28, 2009. They are expected to stay for a minimum of 10 years, and are the only giant pandas living in the Southern Hemisphere.? |
Where to see pandas in China? |