Giant Pandas Pingping and Fushuang Arrive Safely at Zoo Atlanta in Good Health

A new pair of giant pandas, Pingping and Fushuang, arrived in the United States on a chartered flight on the morning of September 27 (Eastern Time) and were subsequently transported to Zoo Atlanta, where they will undergo approximately one month of routine quarantine isolation.

The pandas were loaned to the United States following an announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit. After the aircraft landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, veterinarians and keepers from both China and the United States jointly examined the animals and confirmed that both pandas are in good health, according to a statement released by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese veterinarians and keepers will remain at the zoo for three months to care for the pandas during the quarantine period, assist with stress adaptation, and conduct behavioral training to help them adjust to their new environment as quickly as possible.

Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said: “This is an extremely exciting day for Zoo Atlanta. We warmly welcome Pingping and Fushuang and are thrilled to share this moment with everyone. Zoo Atlanta will continue to advance giant panda conservation efforts in partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.”

Zoo Atlanta Deputy Director Gina Ferrie noted that the zoo has completed facility upgrades and thorough preparations. The pandas are expected to make their public debut after completing more than a month of acclimation.

Under the bilateral arrangement, the pair will reside at Zoo Atlanta for a 10-year loan period. Pingping is a male born on March 17, 2020, and Fushuang is a female born on October 18, 2020.