Giant pandas will soon be stealing hearts and chewing bamboo again in Washington, but first the Smithsonian’s National Zoo needs to spell out its plans.
In a newly public application to the Fish and Wildlife Service, zoo officials detailed the arrangements for Bao Li and Qing Bao, along with initiatives associated with the two pandas. The pair are expected to arrive from China later this year as replacements for the three pandas that China reclaimed last fall.
Though the application outcome seems a slam dunk, the National Zoo and the Conservation Biology Institute still must secure an Endangered Species Act import permit. The application is now open for public review, and for serious giant panda lovers, including the 800-plus who have commented on the permit application in just the last two days, it’s a real feast.
“We hope to continue our long tradition of research, capacity building, education, and partnerships in support of giant pandas, their habitat, and other wildlife sharing the environment,” the applicants state.
