Less than a year after China wanted the pandas that lived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., pandas are once again going to be on loan in America.
Pandas had also lived at the Memphis Zoo and at Zoo Atlanta. Memphis’ pandas were sent back to China last April. Atlanta’s are the only remaining pandas in the U.S., NBC News reported.
The China Wildlife Conservation Association has agreed to send pandas to San Diego and is in talks to send them to Washington, D.C., The Associated Press reported.
Officials at the San Diego Zoo said they may get a male and female panda as early as the end of the summer, five years after the zoo had sent back its last pandas to China.
Zoos typically have to pay $1 million a year for two pandas that goes to China’s conservation efforts. The first giant pandas were sent to the U.S. in 1972, NBC News reported.
The bears earmarked to come to the U.S. are female descendants of Bai Yun and Gao Gao, two bears that had lived at the San Diego Zoo.
Bai Yun lived at the zoo for 20 years after being born in captivity in China. She had six cubs. She and her son were San Diego’s last pandas and returned to China in 2019.
Gao Gao was born in the wild in China. He lived at San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018.
In addition to the San Diego Zoo, pandas are also going to be sent to Madrid and potentially to Vienna, Austria, NBC News reported.
About 1,800 pandas live in the wild while 600 are in captivity.
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Returning to China A crate carrying Panda Mei Xiang is moved out of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 8, 2023. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China Giant Panda Mei Xiang licks up water while resting in its enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China Giant Panda Mei Xiang eats bamboo while resting in its enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China Giant Panda Tian Tian rests in its enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023, on the pants final day of viewing before returning to China. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China Giant Panda statues are stored in a back parking lot at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Stuffed giant panda toys sit on a shelf for sale during a 'Panda Palooza' event atthe Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Throughout the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three giant pandas who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji rolls around in his enclosure during a 'Panda Palooza' event at the Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Through out the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three Giant Panda's who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Male giant panda Tian Tian eats a frozen fruit cake in his enclosure during a 'Panda Palooza' event at the Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Throughout the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three giant pandas who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China A person monitors the Giant Panda House at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Male giant panda Tian Tian eats a frozen fruit cake in his enclosure during a 'Panda Palooza' event at the Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Throughout the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three giant pandas who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: People wear Giant Panda memorabilia as they watch male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji eat a frozen fruit cake in his enclosure during a 'Panda Palooza' event Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Through out the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three Giant Panda's who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji walks around his enclosure during a 'Panda Palooza' event Smithsonian National Zoo on September 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Throughout the rest of September the National Zoo is holding a series of events for the public to commemorate the upcoming departure of the three giant pandas who will return to China in December due to an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 21: Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji eats an ice cake for his third birthday at the Smithsonian National Zoo on August 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. This is the last year that the National Zoo is celebrating the birthdays for the three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji as they are scheduled to return to China later in 2023, with no replacements expected to be exchanged. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Returning to China WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 21: Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji lounges in his enclosure before eating an ice cake for his third birthday at the Smithsonian National Zoo on August 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. This is the last year that the National Zoo is celebrating the birthdays for the three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji as they are scheduled to return to China later in 2023, with no replacements expected to be exchanged. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
