“Giant pandas can unite us. They remind us that fundamental change is possible when we come together for wildlife, conservation and people. We are more connected than ever before,” said Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
by Julia Pierrepont III, Gao Shan
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Cameras flashed and excited crowds of press and people gathered at the gates of Panda Ridge as two giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, made their much-anticipated public appearance at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday.
The two iconic black-and-white bears, the first in more than two decades, arrived in California from China on June 27 to take part in a 10-year international giant panda conservation cooperation program with the San Diego Zoo, marking a new round of cooperation between the two countries.
The crowds braved the scorching heat and waited at least 45 minutes to be admitted.
Paola Barajas was dressed entirely in panda-print clothing, including a T-shirt she designed with photos of the two new pandas.
“I’ve been a panda girl since I was a child,” said the San Diego native, adding that she has seen several generations of pandas at the zoo.
“I was fortunate to be here when the last pandas left five years ago, and I must come here today to welcome the pandas back to San Diego,” she told Xinhua.
The joy was contagious as people from across the country and abroad came to be the first to welcome China’s kind envoys upon their return to the United States.
Paxton, Matthew and Alex, all from Orange County in Southern California, were delighted to see the pandas in person.
“China takes such good care of its pandas, so it must be a sign of trust that they let us look after two of them,” Matthew told Xinhua.
Many believe that these beloved animals play an even more important role. “These pandas are diplomats,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “I learned that when I traveled to China to receive them at their farewell ceremony. I recognize that they symbolize hope and the promise to work together for peace and harmony.”
The mayor noted that this is a great day for his city and he “couldn’t be prouder to be here to celebrate the grand opening of Panda Ridge, the new home of our newest San Diego residents, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao.”
“Our work with giant pandas inspires countless people and strengthens a long-standing tradition of cooperation between California and China,” said Paul Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, adding, “Giant pandas can unite us. They remind us that transformative change is possible when we join forces for wildlife, conservation and people. We are more connected than ever before.”
The San Diego Zoo is one of the most visited zoos in the United States. Located in Balboa Park, it is home to over 12,000 animals representing over 680 species and subspecies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng also attended the opening ceremony of Panda Ridge.
Newsom told Xinhua that he believes in the opportunity these pandas offer for peace.
“We’re all in the same boat,” Newsom said. “It’s about dialogue between people, not just between pandas.”
The governor, who declared August 8 as California Panda Day on Wednesday, noted in his speech that the new pandas are about “celebrating our shared humanity” and “celebrating the things that unite us.”
Xie Feng pointed out that California has a special relationship with giant pandas and that the San Diego Zoo is the first U.S. facility to cooperate with China on panda conservation.
“The arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to celebrate the 45th anniversary of our diplomatic relations sent a clear and important message: China-US cooperation in panda conservation will not end, our people-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation will not stop, and the door of China-US friendship, once opened, will not be closed,” the ambassador said.
The ambassador noted that “the history of our cooperation in panda conservation is also a very vivid example of how our two peoples are approaching each other.”
