December 4, 2009 - Washington's National Zoo is sending its beloved four-year-old panda, Tai Shan, to China under the terms of a loan agreement that brought the cub's parents to the nation's capital.
The popular cub, who was born in 2005 to international fanfare, was supposed to be sent to China two years ago, but extended its agreement with the zoo by two years.
Tai Shan's parents -- mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian -- are on a 10-year, $10 million loan to the zoo until 2010.
The cub has been one of the zoo's most popular attractions by simply sitting around eating bamboo shoots, climbing trees or napping in the sun. Even Tai Shan's birthday parties have been a huge hit.
Click here for a detailed timeline on Tai Shan's growth from around 1.82 pounds shortly after the cub's birtht to a current weight of well over 200 pounds.
Three other U.S. zoos also have giant pandas -- Atlanta, Memphis and in San Diego.
Click here to watch the Smithsonian National Zoo's live Panda Cam. (At last peek, Tai Shan was busily munching on bamboo.)
Click here for more information from the National Zoo on its pandas.
Source:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/12/the-national-zoos-popular-panda-cub-heads-home-to-china/1
The popular cub, who was born in 2005 to international fanfare, was supposed to be sent to China two years ago, but extended its agreement with the zoo by two years.
Tai Shan's parents -- mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian -- are on a 10-year, $10 million loan to the zoo until 2010.
The cub has been one of the zoo's most popular attractions by simply sitting around eating bamboo shoots, climbing trees or napping in the sun. Even Tai Shan's birthday parties have been a huge hit.
Click here for a detailed timeline on Tai Shan's growth from around 1.82 pounds shortly after the cub's birtht to a current weight of well over 200 pounds.
Three other U.S. zoos also have giant pandas -- Atlanta, Memphis and in San Diego.
Click here to watch the Smithsonian National Zoo's live Panda Cam. (At last peek, Tai Shan was busily munching on bamboo.)
Click here for more information from the National Zoo on its pandas.
Source:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/12/the-national-zoos-popular-panda-cub-heads-home-to-china/1
