All panda cubs born at the Smithsonian National Zoo must go to China at the age of 4, while Bai Bei celebrates his fourth birthday in August. The rule is part of an agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The zoo said in a statement that Babe left the zoo at about 9:30 am to Dulles International Airport, where he boarded a FedEx dedicated flight to Chengdu, China.
Known as the "FedEx Panda Express" (FedEx Panda Express), this aircraft is custom-made for North-North travel with a special photo:
The zoo’s statement said that Beibei received his last “American breakfast” made with bamboo and leaf biscuits on Tuesday morning. Before the zoo staff put him in a crates for transport, he had spent the morning in the outer habitat, and the crates had been trained by him to prepare for travel.
“Today is bittersweet,” said zoo head Steve Monfort. “We have been caring for Babe and watching thousands of people with him as true ambassadors for his species. We thank all those who attended our farewell party. I am proud of our team, They are ready for North Bei to enter the Chinese breeding program. We look forward to continuing our 47-year giant panda conservation program and working with Chinese colleagues to study and help protect and protect the giant panda and its native habitat."
Giant panda assistant curator Laurie Thompson has been taking care of Babe since birth. He will travel to China with the giant panda, along with the zoo's chief veterinarian Don Neiffer.
“They will constantly monitor Babe on the go and offer his favorite food, including 66 pounds of bamboo, 2 pounds of apples and pears, two bags of leaf biscuits, 2 pounds of cooked sweet potatoes and water,” the zoo’s statement said. .
Babe fans can also track his journey online.
Babe’s new breeder will meet the giant panda when he arrives in China, where he will be isolated for about 30 days. He will participate in the giant panda breeding program between the ages of six and seven.
He was born at the National Zoo on August 22, 2015, and his parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were born. The zoo said that his name was translated as "precious" or "treasure."
According to the Washington Post, the deputy director of the zoo, Brandy Smith, said he would be the last cub in the zoo for a long time.
Smith said: "Unfortunately, because this is the departure of Babe, but it is also very sad, because this is the end of the era of the National Zoo Panda Project."
She added:We will have cubs in the future.But there is no such family of pandas. It will be the next generation.
