(NewsNation) — The United States has gained two new Chinese residents in the form of two giant pandas: Yun Chuan and Xin Bao.
Both of the Chinese pandas have freshly arrived in their new home in San Diego after a 7,000-mile journey from China.
The pair are the first pandas to enter the United States in 21 years, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo,” CEO Paul Baribault said in a statement Wednesday.
By Thursday, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles confirmed Yun Chuan and Xin Bao’s arrival in Southern California.
Despite an eagerness to see the furry pair, both Yun Chuan and Xin Bao will not be visible to the public for “several weeks”, per San Diego Zoo, as they grow accustomed to their new abode.
“This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts.”
The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Chinese announced in May that two new Giant pandas would be arriving from China by the end of 2024.
It continues a longstanding partnership between the U.S. and China, wherein pandas are sent to American zoos as part of “panda diplomacy.”