US National Zoo bids farewell to pandas as government shutdown looms

Tropical Storm Ophelia forced Washington’s National Zoo to cancel some events, but it did not deter visitors from flocking to the panda enclosure

Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji arrived at the zoo in 2000 under a research agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association

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Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji rolls around in his enclosure during a “Panda Palooza” event at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington on Monday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Published: 12:19am, 26 Sep 2023

Washington’s National Zoo is honouring its three giant pandas with nine days of events ahead of their return to China but stormy weather and a looming US government shutdown have put something of a damper on the festivities.

The “Panda Palooza” to honour their legacy as animal ambassadors and beloved Washington icons drew a reduced crowd on Saturday because of torrential rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia, according to local news reports.

The weather forced the zoo to cancel some outdoor events over the weekend, but it did not deter some heartier visitors from around the United States from flocking to the panda enclosure for one last glimpse at the threesome. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji are scheduled to be returned in early December.

Male giant panda Xiao Qi Ji eats a frozen fruit cake in his enclosure during a “Panda Palooza” event at the National Zoo in Washington on Monday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

The coming week will feature panda-themed film screenings, concerts, lectures, yoga, arts and craft activities, and “tasty celebratory treats” provided by the Chinese embassy in Washington, according to the zoo’s website.

The festivities could end a day sooner than planned, however, if Congress fails to provide funding for the financial year starting on October 1 because of a continuing dispute between far-right Republicans and other lawmakers.

The zoo, operated by the Smithsonian Institution, receives federal funding, and would be forced to close to the public during a government shutdown, according to its website. The shutdown would not disrupt animal care, but the zoo’s popular live “Panda Cam” would go dark.

Mei Xiang, 25, and Tian Tian, 26, arrived at the zoo in 2000 under a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The pandas were initially meant to stay 10 years, but the agreement has been renewed three times since 2010.