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China Approves Loan of Giant Pandas to U.S. National Zoo
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Li Zhaoxing announced Sunday that China has approved to loan two giant pandas to the U.S. National Zoo located in Washington D.C.
The Chinese government has given its approval to a cooperative project between the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and the United States SmithsonianInstitution National Zoological Park (NZP) concerning giant panda conservation and research, Li said.
According to the letter of intent signed on April 7 this year, the CWCA will loan to the U.S. National Zoo one male and one female captive-born pre-productive giant pandas for study, breeding and exhibition at the National Zoo.
The two sides are firmly committed to the survival of giant pandas and their habitats through habitat protection, scientific research, public education, captive breeding, professional training and other conservation biology measures.
As a gesture of friendship for the American people, the Chinese government gave the U.S. National Zoo a gift of two giant pandas, Xingxing and Lingling, in 1972.
"Their presence went a long way towards fostering and heightening a public awareness of wildlife conservation," Li said. Li said himself and the Embassy as a whole were saddened by Xingxing's death last year and have since worked energetically to make the CWCA-NZP project a success.
Right now, there are around 1,000 giant pandas around the world, 122 of which are captive-born, including five inside the United States.
"The Embassy is convinced that the Chinese government's approval of the project will strengthen the cause of giant panda protection," Li said.
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