Pandas have been a key part of the U.S.A.’s zoos for so long. But the truth is, we’re only renting them from China.

By Alice Andersen – 6th grade

Picture this: pandas sitting in an enclosure at the zoo, two adults, one cub. Well, what if I told you they are only here for diplomatic reasons. And again, what if I said that they’re being rented like an apartment. Both of these statements are true. Panda diplomacy, which refers to the act of the Chinese government gifting, or loaning, pandas to strengthen ties between countries, has existed since the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). That practice is especially prominent in the 20th and 21th centuries. From 1941 to 1984, China gave pandas to other countries, but starting in 1984, the act of loaning them began. 

Pandas arrived in the US after Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. The first lady, Pat Nixon stated that she highly enjoyed watching the pandas. The Chinese premier, Zhou Enlai, told her that he would be willing to supply her with a few of these animals. The pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing arrived in the Washington Zoo two months later. 

Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing lived in the zoo for 20 years, and during that time, gave birth to 5 cubs, none of which survived. Ling-Ling died on December 30, 1992, aged 23, of heart failure, followed by Hsing-Hsing, on November 28, 1999, from terminal kidney disease. Many more pandas were shipped to the U.S. during that time. At some point, there were 15 pandas in the US.

But as time passed, the relationship between the US and China worsened slowly. The amount of pandas decreased slowly. On November 8, 2023, there were only 4 pandas left in the US. 

Another panda pair with a story to tell is Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. They arrived at the National Zoo in 2000, their contract allowing them 10 years before their return. The agreement was extended several times, and was set to expire on December 7, 2023. Mei Xiang was born in 1998, and Tian Tian in 1997. Mei Xiang had 7 offspring at the National Zoo, but only 4 survived: Tai Shan, Bao Bao, Bei Bei, and Xiao Qi Ji, three of which were shipped back to China at age 4. Xiao Qi Ji returned with Mei Xiang and Tian Tian on November 8, 2023. 

But even though most pandas are gone from the U.S, there might be more. On November 15, 2023, President Joe Biden met with Xi Jinping, president of China, in San Francisco, CA. During this meeting, Jinping voiced that he may be sending more pandas to the US.