San Diego, California - At 7:30 on the morning of May 16, 2019, with the landing of the CX2062 flight, the giant panda "Bai Yun" returned to her hometown after 23 years. The giant panda "Xiao Liwu" accompanied his mother on her return. The giant panda veterinarian and animal care staff, who had been waiting at the airport for a long time, conducted preliminary observations on the two giant pandas. They confirmed that there is no serious stress reaction and both pandas were doing well.
At 1 o'clock, the transport vehicle carrying the giant panda "Bai Yun" and "Xiao Liwu" slowly entered the gate of the Qingjiangshan base of Dujiangyan, China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center. After the giant panda veterinary expert checked the pandas again, the enthusiastic staff unloaded the transport cage in an orderly manner, and patiently guided the giant pandas into the isolation quarantine areas.
Guided by the National Forestry and Prairie Bureau, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center and hosted by the People’s Government of Dujiangyan City, the welcome ceremony for “Bai Yun” and “Xiao Liwu” The China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center was held at the Qingchengshan Base in Dujiangyan at 3:30 pm. The welcome ceremony kicked off with singing and dancing of Dujiangyan children.
The San Diego Zoo began a three-week panda farewell celebration on April 6 in San Diego. Thousands of Americans helped the San Diego Zoo farewell to Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu. On April 27th, the pandas ended their exhibition in the United States and entered the preparatory stage before returning to China.
In the 23 years since the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center and the San Diego Zoo have carried out scientific research cooperation, the giant panda project has achieved successful results in the protection, breeding, behavioral ecology, disease prevention and control, and public education of the giant pandas,. Six young cubs, including Hua Mei, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen and Yun Zi, have returned to the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center after the expiration of the agreement. In November last year, Gao Gao, the adult male giant pandas living in the San Diego Zoo returned to the Qinghaishan Base of Dujiangyan, China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center.
According to Zhang Zhizhong, secretary of the Party Committee of the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center, the China Giant Panda Conservation Research Center, as the world's largest international panda international and domestic research cooperation platform, has established long-term cooperative relationships with 16 zoos in 14 countries. Panda research and breeding, public education, and humanities exchanges have achieved fruitful results. With the return of the giant pandas, the Chinese giant panda conservation research center has increased its population of giant pandas to 17 in the world, forming the largest in the world.