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Panda fever hits Washington’s National Zoo early, as does push for donations to help cover high costs
- Zoo will pay US$1 million a year to a China wildlife group, with aim of raising US$25 million to ‘secure a future’ for the bears in nation’s capital
- Banners and decorations now greet visitors, months before the arrival of two new pandas symbolising China’s soft-power diplomacy
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Khushboo Razdanin Washington
Months before giant pandas make their highly anticipated return to Washington, the National Zoo has mounted an extensive publicity campaign, festooning the premises with announcements and soliciting donations to offset the high cost of hosting them.
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Towering black-and-white banners and panda-themed decorations now greet zoo visitors, laying the groundwork for the arrival of two of the rare bears that have come to symbolise China’s soft-power diplomacy.
“Definitely excited about the pandas,” said a woman named Gabriele visiting with her children from Maryland on Saturday, adding that she would “for sure” come back to see them.
Two other visitors noted they were unaware the prized animals had been gone from the zoo until they saw the banners proclaiming their return.
Last week, officials at the zoo, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, said two pandas – Bao Li and Qing Bao – would arrive in Washington by the end of this year.
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