Smithsonian National Zoo

Giant Panda Tian Tian rests in its enclosure at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC, on November 7, 2023, on the pants final day of viewing before returning to China. All three of the zoo's pandas are leaving for China by the end of the year, bringing at least a temporary end to a decades-old connection between the cuddly animal and the US capital. And while the pandas' departure had been expected due to contractual obligations, many can't help but see the shift as reflective of the growing strains between Beijing and Washington.

Smithsonian National Zoo's giant pandas leave the United States for China

Rosana Rábago Sainz

Conéctate con VOZ MEDIA y recibe notificaciones y contenidos especiales.

© 2025 Voz Media Inc. All Rights Reserved