Bao Li and Qing Bao

Qing Bao
Qing Bao the Panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo in 2026
Bao Li at the Smithsonian National Zoo in 2026
SpeciesGiant panda
Sex
  • Female (Qing Bao)
  • Male (Bao Li)
Born (2021-09-12) September 12, 2021 (age 5) (Qing Bao) (2021-08-04) August 4, 2021 (age 5) (Bao Li)
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
ResidenceNational Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.
ParentsJia Mei, Qing Qing (Qing Bao)
Bao Li:

Qing Bao (simplified Chinese: 青宝; traditional Chinese: 青寶; pinyin: Qīng Bǎo; born September 12, 2021) and Bao Li (simplified Chinese: 宝力; traditional Chinese: 寶力; pinyin: Bǎo Lì; born August 4, 2021) are two giant pandas who are currently residing at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

Life

Qing Bao was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China, on September 12, 2021. Qing Bao is the cub of Jia Mei and Qing Qing.[citation needed] Bao Li was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China, on August 4, 2021. Bao Li is the cub of Bao Bao, who was born at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. He is the twin brother of Bao Yuan and the sibling of Dun Dun. Qing Bao and Bao Li are the current giant pandas in residence at the National Zoo.

Under the terms of the agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), the two pandas will be leased to the National Zoo from October 2024 to April 2034, for a fee of US$1 million per year. In addition, any new cubs born to Qing Bao and Bao Li would ultimately have to be shipped to China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding before they reach the age of 4.

On October 15, 2024, Qing Bao and Bao Li arrived in the U.S. at Dulles International Airport on a special FedEx flight, and they were subsequently transported to the National Zoo. Their arrival from China was announced five months prior. From January 10–19, 2025, Bao Li and Qing Bao were debuted during a special preview, where they were available to be viewed ahead of their official public debut by members of the National Zoo.

The two pandas were received with much excitement at their public debut on January 24, 2025, where they were welcomed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, local kindergarteners, and a funk band. Additionally, the National Zoo's Giant Panda Cam, a live webcam of the panda exhibit, was relaunched on the day of the pandas' debut, allowing people around the world to view Bao Li and Qing Bao. As of August 2026, Bao Li is still living at the National Zoo.

Bao Li and Qing Bao have been given their own habitats at the National Zoo. Due to giant pandas being solitary creatures, the habitats are separated via a fenceline with mesh screens that the Smithsonian called "howdy" windows. In April 2026, the two pandas began to flirt through the "howdy" windows.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "DC's panda family tree: Bao Li is the latest link at the National Zoo". October 15, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Panda Bao Yuan: Qingcheng Mountain Little Lion". Panda Tribe. April 8, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Welcome Back, Pandas! Two Furry Diplomats Are Headed to the D.C. Zoo". May 29, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The National Zoo's Giant Pandas Are Finally Making Their Public Debut". January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ "What We Know About the National Zoo's New Pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao". October 16, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ "New DC panda Bao Li's mom was a star at the National Zoo, too". October 15, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Two New Giant Pandas Coming to Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute From China by End of the Year". May 29, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Giant Pandas Will Make Their Public Debut Jan. 24 at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute". January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao make public debut at National Zoo". January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Here they are — Bao Li and Qing Bao — DC's new giant pandas". January 24, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ Walrath-Holdridge, Mary; Cann, Christopher (January 24, 2025). "Watch pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao live from National Zoo on Giant Panda Cam". Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Happy 5th Birthday, Bao Li". National Zoo. August 4, 2026.
  13. ↑ Thompson, Laurie; Lally, Mariel (April 1, 2026). "Flirting Like a Panda: Spring Sparks for Bao Li and Qing Bao at the National Zoo". Smithsonian.