Joelle lang-Fredman
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) This winter, the Smithsonian National Zoo will be sending one of its giant pandas, Bao Bao, to China as part of a partnership it has with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
When the pandas at the D.C. zoo turn four, they are sent to China to breed.
“The whole goal of a giant panda is to make more giant pandas,” Brandi Smith, the associate director for animal care sciences at the zoo, said. “It’s said for us, but we’re so excited that she’s going to go to a wonderful new home, and she’s going to get to have cubs of her own.”
Bao Bao is fully weaned off her mother and ready to leave her behind.
“When she and Mei Xiang, her mom, see each other, smell each other, their interactions are that they either ignore each other or that they are aggressive,” Smith said. ” In the wild, a young cub will go off on their own apart from their mom so they are not competition for breeding.”
Smith said that the zoo has been working on ways to make the plane ride stress-free for Bao Bao.
“Our whole goal is to make her as comfortable as possible on this trip,” Smith said.
Bao Bao will be riding in a cage made specifically for her, and alongside her favorite zoo keeper.
The zoo will be hosting special activities in order that people can come say goodbye to the panda.
“We know everyone is going to miss Bao Bao as much as we will,” Smith said.
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Smithsonian National Zoo)
