View source for US China Extend Giant Panda Deal By Three Years

Xiao Qi Ji, a baby giant panda born at the National Zoo in Washington<br>  <br>Giant pandas will remain at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington for another three years under an agreement reached with Chinese wildlife officials, the zoo said on Monday.<br> <br>The panda loan deal between the United States and China had been set to expire in December.<br> <br>The National Zoo said it had signed a three-year extension with the Conservation Biology Institute and China Wildlife and Conservation Association.<br> <br>Under the agreement, the National Zoo's 22-year-old female giant panda Mei Xiang, 23-year-old male giant panda Tian Tian and their cub, [http://www.deer-digest.com/?s=Xiao%20Qi Xiao Qi] Ji, born on August 21, would go to China in December 2023.<br> <br>"Along with millions of Americans, I look forward to the next three years, watching Xiao Qi Ji grow and making further strides in conservation and in our understanding of giant pandas," said Steve Monfort,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/blog/kinh-nghiem-di-tour-du-lich-cuu-trai-cau-day-du-nhat.html kinh nghiệm đi cửu trại câu] director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.<br> <br>The National Zoo has hosted giant pandas from China since 1972 and [http://www.broowaha.com/search/Mei%20Xiang Mei Xiang] and Tian Tian have been at the zoo since December 2000.<br> <br>Xiao Qi Ji is their fourth surviving cub.<br><br>The other three were returned to China.<br> <br>There are an estimated 1,800 giant pandas in the wild in China, mostly in Sichuan Province, and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/blog/kinh-nghiem-di-tour-du-lich-cuu-trai-cau-day-du-nhat.html cửu trại câu] some 600 living in zoos and breeding centers around the world.<br>