Tai Shan, the giant panda from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., prepares to be loaded onto a cargo plane at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia to return to China on Thursday, February 4, 2010. [Photo: Xinhua]
Two young giant pandas, born in the United States began a long journey to their new home in China on Thursday, to become part of an endangered species breeding program.
The morning started early for Mei Lan (pronounced MAY LAHN) , the female Panda from Zoo Atlanta, who travelled to the Atlanta airport where she boarded her very own FedEx jet for Washington, DC.
Once in Washington, she was joined by Tai Shan, the young male panda born in the city's National Zoo four years ago.
Tai Shan (pronounced TY-shawn) munched calmly on apple and pear slices, before his crate was loaded onto a truck to be driven to Dulles International Airport.
Don Moore, the Zoo's Associate Director of Animal Care, said it was sad to see the panda leave, but the zoo staff were glad he is able to "go back to China to help save his species."
Officials said a veterinarian and animal keeper will accompany the pandas for the 14-hour flight to the Chinese city of Chengdu.
The pandas will initially be quarantined for 30 days at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Chengdu.
A team of experienced keepers, vets and researchers will take care of Tai Shan at the centre, Tang Chunxiang, Vice Director of CCRCGP said.
Tang said the team has taken full consideration of the difference in climate, food tastes and so on between the US and China.
The panda's diet will be composed of fresh bamboo, fruit and steamed cookies made from corn, vegetable and milk among other foodstuffs.
One month later, visitors will be able to view the centre's new additions.
Tai Shan, the giant panda from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is loaded onto a cargo plane at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia to return to China on Thursday, February 4, 2010. [Photo: Xinhua]
A plane carrying giant pandas Mei Lan from the Atlanta Zoo and Tai Shan from the National Zoo in Washington prepares for takeoff on a flight to China at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia on Thursday, February 4, 2010. [Photo: Xinhua]
A girl bids farewell to Tai Shan, the giant panda from the National Zoo in Washington, as he gets ready to head home to China at Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia on Thursday, February 4, 2010. [Photo: Xinhua]
