SAN DIEGO — Two giant pandas made their public debut Thursday at the San Diego Zoo. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived at the San Diego Zoo earlier this summer and are the first giant pandas to enter the U.S. in 21 years.
In celebration of their debut, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed August 8, 2024, as California Panda Day.
Panda Ridge at the San Diego Zoo opened August 8 at noon. Guests have several options to see the animals, including obtaining a free giant panda timed ticket or joining a standby line. Additionally, advanced reservations are available for an exclusive 60-minute Early Morning with Pandas Walking Tour before the zoo opens to guests for the day.
Panda Ridge is described as an "expansive and multidimensional experience... inspired by famous geological formations in China, emulating the mountainous forest ecosystems where giant pandas thrive while immersing you into their world," a statement from Erika Kohler, San Diego Zoo senior vice president and executive director read.
Panda Ridge grand opening
Giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, made their public debut Thursday, August 8, as the San Diego Zoo celebrated the opening of Panda Ridge. Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria were on hand for the ceremony.
Here’s a look at the giant pandas’ favorite food
Bamboo, which is a type of grass, is a staple of the giant panda’s diet. A giant panda will eat 10 to 14 hours a day and consume around 30 to 60 pounds of bamboo in one day. And to help feed these animals, zookeepers harvest from a six acre bamboo forest at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
We spoke with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance to find out more about the bamboo that is grown in the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Arriving in San Diego
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao arrived in San Diego June 27. The giant pandas' arrival is part of a special conservation agreement between China and the U.S. The San Diego Zoo last hosted pandas in 2019, but China recalled most of its giant pandas from U.S. zoos over diplomatic tensions.
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao resume the symbolization of friendship between the two countries or panda diplomacy. Mayor Todd Gloria visited China in June to participate in farewell ceremonies for the panda pair before they started their journey to San Diego.
Since their arrival, the San Diego Zoo has worked with Chinese experts to satisfy the pandas' dietary needs and preferences. Veterinary teams from both the U.S. and China are paying attention to a range of health factors, including weight and appetite, to make sure the pandas thrive.
Staff have provided the panda pair with a variety of fresh bamboo, in addition to a local adaptation of a traditional Chinese bun called "panda bread." They have conducted food adaptability exercises and have monitored the pandas' weight to make sure they are adjusting properly.
Yun Chuan
Yun Chuan is almost five years old. His mother was the fourth cub born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007.
You can spot Yun Chuan by looking for his long, slightly pointed nose. Zoo officials say he looks "extremely comfortable whether he is exploring on the grass or climbing trees."
Xin Bao
Xin Bao is four years old. Her name means "previous treasure of prosperity and abundance." Zoo officials say you can identify Xin Bao by her large, round face and big fluffy ears.
She enjoys "sunbathing quietly and focusing on her favorite food."
Throwback | The Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo throughout the decades
WATCH: San Diego Zoo pandas in 1987
WATCH: Pandas unveiled at San Diego Zoo in 1987
WATCH: Pandas Bai Yun and Shi Shi go on display at the San Diego Zoo in 1996
WATCH: A look back at the Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo in 1987, 1997 and 1999