Atlanta
CNN
—

After a quarter century of hosting giant pandas, Zoo Atlanta is saying goodbye to its beloved residents. The zoo announced that its four giant pandas: Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun and Xi Lun will return to China in mid-October. Meanwhile, the San Diego Zoo welcomed two new pandas this summer, and the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington expects to host two bears by the end of 2024.

The Pandas’ departure from Zoo Atlanta is bittersweet. They have been an iconic part of the zoo and the city since 1999. Their images can be seen on billboards throughout Atlanta and the zoo’s LIVE Panda Cam is a favorite with locals.

Pandas are rare in U.S. zoos. Before the arrival of two bears in San Diego last June, the Atlanta pandas were the only ones in the United States. They served as lovable ambassadors for their species, attracting millions of visitors and educating them about the difficulties pandas face in the wild.

Dr. Sam Rivera, Zoo Atlanta’s vice president of animal health, who has worked with the pandas since their arrival 25 years ago, says saying goodbye will be tough. But exchanging pandas between China and international zoos like Zoo Atlanta is an essential part of helping this endangered species. By studying the pandas at different zoological facilities, scientists can conduct research in different environments and gain insights that might be missed in the bears’ natural habitat. It also supports collaborations with non-zoological educational and research institutions. International partnerships have helped scientists better understand the pandas’ biology, behavior and environmental issues.

Zoo Atlanta has achieved several milestones with the pandas over the past 25 years. In 2016, Lun Lun and Yang Yang became parents to Ya Lun and Xi Lun, their second set of twins — making Zoo Atlanta the first U.S. facility to raise two sets of panda twins. The successful IVF births were a highlight among the many major advances in panda reproduction made at the zoo. Dr. Rivera says the zoo is very proud of its success in panda reproduction and pregnancy monitoring. Other notable accomplishments include major advances in understanding giant pandas’ maternal behavior and, in collaboration with partners at Georgia Tech, Zoo Atlanta found that giant pandas have color vision comparable to other bears.

Another important benefit of having pandas in zoos outside of China is the access they provide to the public. Seeing pandas up close is a unique opportunity to learn more about the endangered species while raising vital funds for research. Zoo Atlanta says it has raised over $17 million for giant panda conservation in China. The majority of these funds have been used to support eight different Chinese nature reserves.

And it works. The once endangered species is coming back. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there were about a thousand pandas in the wild in the 1980s. Since 2016, the giant panda has been removed from the endangered species list. The number of giant pandas has increased by 17% in the last decade.

Why are giant pandas important?

Although they are no longer threatened with extinction, pandas are still endangered. According to Zoo Atlanta, the total number of giant pandas is still too small to sustain a viable population. The problems pandas face are largely due to habitat loss. Currently, only 61% of China’s panda population is protected by government reserves. Their natural habitat is small and fragmented, preventing them from mixing and reproducing and limiting suitable dens for mothers. And when pandas have problems, other animals have problems too. Their habitat, the bamboo forests of China, is also home to many other species. Pandas play an important role in their habitat as well. They are credited with spreading their seeds across the landscape and contributing to the health and diversity of the forest. By protecting pandas, we are helping to preserve these valuable ecosystems.

“Panda Palooza”

And if you want to say goodbye to the pandas at Zoo Atlanta, the zoo will send them off in style with a “Panda Palooza” event on October 5, 2024. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.

As Zoo Atlanta says goodbye to its pandas this fall, the arrival of new pandas at the San Diego Zoo and Smithsonian National Zoo is a sign of the ongoing commitment to saving these extraordinary mammals and reminds us of the critical role we play in protecting not only the giant panda, but all animals, so they can continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

How you can help pandas

If you care about the fate of giant pandas, you can help. One direct way to do your part is to support reputable charities dedicated to protecting pandas. These groups focus on scientific research, educational programs, and habitat conservation.

ZooAtlanta is involved in conservation programs locally and around the world, including in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. They help fund other established conservation organizations as well as projects, research and education programs at their zoo.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization comprised of two parts: the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. They develop sustainable conservation solutions through education, wildlife care and science.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been committed to protecting the giant panda for decades and works to preserve its habitat and represent its political interests.

Pandas International is an organization that specifically focuses on the conservation and reproduction of the giant panda and supports breeding centers and research in China.

You can also make a difference by visiting other reputable zoos and supporting their research and raising awareness about conservation. Sharing information, supporting panda initiatives and advocating for the environment all help the cause.

You can donate to the giant pandas via this link or by clicking below.