Pair of giant pandas on their way from China to San Diego Zoo under conservation partnership

SAN DIEGO– A pair of giant pandas are on their way from China to the US, where they will be cared for at the San Diego Zoo as part of an ongoing partnership for conservation between the two nations, officials said Wednesday.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance officials were in China for a farewell ceremony commemorating the departure of giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao.

The celebration included cultural performances, video greetings from Chinese and American students and a gift exchange between conservation partners, the zoo said in a statement. After the ceremony, the giant pandas began their journey to Southern California.

“This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a partnership between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts,” Paul Baribault, president of the Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement. “Our long-standing partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association has played an important role in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and flourishing of this iconic species to ensure.”

It could be several weeks before the giant pandas will be visible to the public in San Diego, officials said.

Yun Chuan, a gentle male of nearly 5 years old, has ties to California, the wildlife alliance said earlier. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born in 2007 at the San Diego Zoo to Bai Yun and Gao Gao.

Xin Bao is an almost four-year-old female who is described as “a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears.”

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has been working with leading conservation institutions in China for nearly 30 years. These organizations focus on the protection and recovery of giant pandas and the bamboo forests on which they depend.