Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their male cub Xiao Qi Ji departed the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, now on their way back to China.

Ahead of their leaving, staff from both the U.S. and China hailed the two sides' collaboration on giant panda conservation that dated back over 50 years.

Brandie Smith, Director of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), "We've celebrated 50 years of a successful giant panda conservation program, working together, our scientists here at the National Zoo working with our colleagues in China to save this incredible species. And I think in a world where many species are becoming more and more endangered, the fact that things are going better for this species (that) is becoming less endangered speaks to the success of this program."

Michael Brown-Palsgrove, Curator of giant pandas at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), "We've all had the same objective, which is to save giant pandas. And we've had a very collegial relationship with them (the Chinese side). We work with them exclusively and intimately. And we're really excited that we've had this kind of conservation success."

Melissa Songer, Conservation ecologist at Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), "I think what's one of the wonderful things about giant pandas is that they bring so many people together that want to try to help them in the wild and then here at the zoo as well. So I'm very proud and happy about all that we've accomplished together with our partners in China."

Wei Ming, expert at China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, "Since the launch of international scientific research cooperation on giant pandas, we have established a good cooperative relationship with each other. Experience exchanges and research cooperation have been carried out in giant panda breeding, scientific research, medical care, and public education. The two sides have learned from each other's strengths and complemented each other's weaknesses, jointly promoting the high-quality development of giant panda protection. It has played an important role in the friendship and understanding between the two peoples."

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had lived in Washington, D.C. since their arrival in 2000. They produced four adorable cubs in the years that followed.

STORY: Giant pandas from U.S. heading to China, conservation collaborations hailed
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 8, 2023 and Oct. 25, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 9, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:05
LOCATION: Washington D.C.
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of giant pandas
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BRANDIE SMITH, Director, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MICHAEL BROWN-PALSGROVE, Curator of giant pandas, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MELISSA SONGER, Conservation ecologist, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WEI MING, Expert, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda

STORYLINE:

Giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their male cub Xiao Qi Ji departed the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, now on their way back to China.

Ahead of their leaving, staff from both the U.S. and China hailed the two sides' collaboration on giant panda conservation that dated back over 50 years.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BRANDIE SMITH, Director, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
"We've celebrated 50 years of a successful giant panda conservation program, working together, our scientists here at the National Zoo working with our colleagues in China to save this incredible species. And I think in a world where many species are becoming more and more endangered, the fact that things are going better for this species (that) is becoming less endangered speaks to the success of this program."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MICHAEL BROWN-PALSGROVE, Curator of giant pandas, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
"We've all had the same objective, which is to save giant pandas. And we've had a very collegial relationship with them (the Chinese side). We work with them exclusively and intimately. And we're really excited that we've had this kind of conservation success."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MELISSA SONGER, Conservation ecologist, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI)
"I think what's one of the wonderful things about giant pandas is that they bring so many people together that want to try to help them in the wild and then here at the zoo as well. So I'm very proud and happy about all that we've accomplished together with our partners in China."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WEI MING, Expert, China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
"Since the launch of international scientific research cooperation on giant pandas, we have established a good cooperative relationship with each other. Experience exchanges and research cooperation have been carried out in giant panda breeding, scientific research, medical care, and public education. The two sides have learned from each other's strengths and complemented each other's weaknesses, jointly promoting the high-quality development of giant panda protection. It has played an important role in the friendship and understanding between the two peoples."

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had lived in Washington, D.C. since their arrival in 2000. They produced four adorable cubs in the years that followed.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C.
(XHTV)