U.S. zoo releases latest updates on giant panda pair

(ECNS) -- The San Diego Zoo released the latest updates on giant panda pair Yun Chuan and Xin Bao on Tuesday, having settled here eight months prior.

"After a relatively brief acclimation period, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao became confident, active bears who wasted no time in discovering their favorite pastimes," said Jana Biedenweg and Jessica Wagner, wildlife care specialists at the Zoo.

"Xin Bao is definitely our tree lover. Trees are her favorite place", Biedenweg said. "Trees aren't just for the four-year-old female panda to lounge", said Wagner. "She does these amazing flips in the branches for fun, adding that even stationary moments in the trees have a purpose. From her perch up there, she gets a nice view across the Zoo", she added.

"Yun Chuan "goes with the flow," and loves his pool," said Biedenweg. "For him, there's nothing like a dip on a warm day".

San Diego is the first U.S. zoo to run a cooperative conservation program with Chinese partners. To welcome the new pair of giant pandas, it renovated and expanded its panda enclosure to four times its previous size, taking inspiration from the breathtaking, lush landscapes of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao live in two adjacent habitats that they trade on a regular basis.

As of early March, Yun Chuan weighed about 113 kilograms, while Xin Bao weighed around 103 kilograms. They have established a regular routine, usually resting indoors until around 6 a.m., then enjoying a bamboo breakfast. They move to the outdoor habitat munching on bamboo by 9 a.m. The care team interacts with the pandas, taking opportunities to conduct blood pressure and dental checks, as well as other medical exams, according to the Zoo.

Arriving in San Diego on June 27, 2024 and making their public debut on Aug. 8 at the renovated Panda Ridge, they are the first pandas to enter the United States in 21 years.

(By Li Yan)