Nation May 29 Giant pandas will return to Washington’s National Zoo by year’s end The zoo announced Wednesday that a fresh agreement had been struck with the Chinese government, and a pair of adult pandas would be arriving by the end of the year. By Dino Hazell, Associated Press
Nation Nov 04 Watch 5:30 National Zoo says goodbye to beloved pandas as they prepare for return to China The giant pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. are heading home amid rising tensions between the United States and China. For many, it’s a bittersweet farewell, but zoo officials hope it’s just a pause in panda diplomacy… By John Yang, Ali Rogin, Lorna Baldwin, Rachel Liesendahl
Science Oct 03 National Zoo’s giant pandas to return to China in December, leaving only a handful in America The National Zoo’s three giant pandas are set to return to China in December with no public signs the 50-year-old exchange agreement struck by President Richard Nixon will continue. By Ashraf Khalil, Didi Tang, Associated Press
Science Apr 16 Watch 6:15 National Zoo celebrates 50 years of panda conservation It was 50 years ago this weekend that giant pandas were first brought to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington. The historic program with China has fostered a collaboration between scientists and led to a conservation success story for the… By Geoff Bennett, Lorna Baldwin
Aug 21 Birth of panda cub brings ‘joyous news’ to the National Zoo By Carole Feldman, Associated Press Announcing the "joyous news," the zoo says the cub was born at 6:35 p.m., The zoo says Mei Xiang picked up the cub immediately and began cradling it, and says its panda team heard the cub vocalize. Continue reading
Aug 18 National Zoo awaits birth of pandemic panda cub By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press Zookeepers at Washington’s National Zoo are on furry black-and-white baby watch after concluding that venerable giant panda matriarch Mei Xiang is pregnant and could give birth this week. Continue reading
Dec 28 Shutdown to close D.C. museums and galleries by midweek By Associated Press Museums and galleries popular with visitors and locals in the nation's capital will close starting midweek if the partial shutdown of the federal government drags on. So will the National Zoo and a lively ice rink near the National Mall. Continue reading
Jan 23 No one loves Winter Storm Jonas more than this giant panda By Andrew Mach While Washington D.C. residents hunkered down on Saturday as Winter Storm Jonas battered a large swath of the Eastern Seaboard, the Smithsonian National Zoo's giant panda Tian Tian basked in snowy bliss. Continue reading
Sep 25 Panda cub’s name revealed By Darlene Superville, Associated Press Washington's newest giant panda cub is nameless no more. Call him Bei Bei. Michelle Obama and her Chinese counterpart, Peng Liyuan, revealed the name Friday during a tour of the panda house at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Continue reading