WASHINGTON – Little has altered Frances Nguyen’s life more than the pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Their relationship began in 2006, when Nguyen tuned into the zoo’s “Giant Panda Cam” and watched a mother panda care for her newborn cub. The scene struck her deeply, resurfacing memories of when she was separated from her parents during the Vietnam War. From that moment, Nguyen said, she has been caught in a kind of loving bear trap.
She bought a professional-grade camera to document the animals, her first foray into photography. The shy federal employee started the conservation group “Pandas Unlimited,” which introduced her to many of her closest friends. But the pandas went on to occupy an even bigger role in her life: They became matchmakers.
She met her husband, Foo Cheung, in front of the zoo’s panda habitat after Cheung, a scientist who dabbled in animal photography, joined the group Nguyen had started. They married two years later and went on to have two children – both named after the bears that brought them together.
Now, after more than a year without seeing her favorite animals, Nguyen – along with thousands of panda fanatics – is ready to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao, the latest bears loaned by China as part of its decades-long “panda diplomacy” program. The bears’ public debut is Friday.
More: How to see the National Zoo’s new giant pandas
“This is a new era,” Nguyen, 51, said. “I get to start early and watch them grow. My children get to see them grow, too.”
The 3-year-old pandas arrived in Washington in October after a 19-hour flight aboard the “FedEx Panda Express” from Chengdu, in China’s Sichuan province. They replaced three pandas – Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their cub, Xiao Qi Ji – who returned to China when their lease expired in November 2023.
It was the first time the National Zoo has been without giant pandas since 1972, when the first panda ambassadors arrived in Washington following a historic visit to China by then-President Richard Nixon.
Amid tenuous diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, many feared giant pandas might not return to Washington, but a new agreement came together in a matter of months.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has since prepared for the resurgence of panda-mania in the capital city, recruiting staff and volunteers including those involved in its wildly popular “Giant Panda Cam.”
Last year, the zoo saw a 20% drop in visitors, which it attributes in part to the loss of the giant pandas in late 2023. Since the announcement of Bao Li and Qing Bao’s arrival in the U.S., the zoo has gained more than 1,000 new members. Many bought memberships to attend a series of preview events where they could see the pandas before Jan. 24 – an offering that helped acclimate the bears to crowds of adoring fans before their debut.
Their official unveiling on Friday marks not only the continuation of a special brand of U.S.-China diplomacy, but also the pandas’ enduring popularity in Washington, where their images are sold on T-shirts, emblazoned on public transit cards and painted on murals.
“They’re just something everyone in D.C. can agree on loving,” said Liz Charboneau, a longtime zoo patron who has lived in Washington for 10 years. “They’re a bright spot for the city.”
‘Awe inspiring’: Museum members get an early look at the new pandas
Thousands are expected to brave the cold in the coming weeks for a glimpse of the new giant pandas. Ahead of the public debut, some museum members had a chance to see them early.
Anne Bossi, a New Jersey resident who for decades has visited the zoo at least four times a year, was on her computer the moment early tickets went live.
The 72-year-old secured eight passes, and with a group of relatives stood in front of the furry animals, switching between waving “hello” and taking dozens of photos and videos.
There was plenty to see: Bao Li scarfed down bamboo and played with an inner tube, keeping it in the air with his front and back legs as he lay on his back. Then he rolled around in the snow.
“I haven’t been to the zoo in probably over 40 years, and to see them up close – it was pretty awe-inspiring,” said Lynn Kinsel, Bossi’s niece. “They were almost putting on a show for us.”
Qing Bao, known among zookeepers as a shy and contemplative panda, spent time on her climbing gym before sitting down to enjoy the bamboo special.
“We had a 9:30 time slot, so I guess it was breakfast time,” Kinsel, 59, said.
Charboneau, who purchased a membership to see the pandas early, caught Bao Li and Qing Bao while they were napping.
“They were both asleep,” she laughed. “I really missed out because everybody else I know – and all the other pictures I saw from that day – showed them playing.”
Charboneau, Kinsel and Bossi, like the countless panda fans around the world, are drawn to the bears’ seemingly infinite charm – an aspect of the animals that still enthralls zoo officials.
“I’ve been working with these animals for 16 years, and I still want to stop and marvel at the extreme cuteness of these animals,” said Brandie Smith, the director of the National Zoo, during an appearance on the USA TODAY podcast “The Excerpt.”
Smith said being in the presence of a giant panda is a rare opportunity. Currently, the only other place in the U.S. where people can see the black-and-white bears outside of Washington is the San Diego Zoo. Within the last decade, the once-endangered species have been reclassified from “endangered” to “vulnerable.”
“They’re not just rare in the wild, but they’re rare in zoos,” Smith said. “When you see one, that’s a special opportunity. Most people on the planet won’t have an opportunity to see a giant panda.”
New pandas stir familiar feelings
Nguyen was among the panda devotees who got an early look at the new bears. To her, it was like reconnecting with old friends – especially since one of the pandas has deep ties to Washington.
Bao Li, born in China, is the third generation of his panda family to live in the nation’s capital. His mother, Bao Bao, was born at the zoo in 2013. His grandparents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, called the National Zoo home for over two decades before they were sent back to China in November 2023.
It was these bears as well as their cub, Tai Shan, that sparked Nguyen’s enduring fascination with giant pandas.
“Watching these animal interact, it just filled me in ways that I didn’t understand,” she said. “Being there made me smile. Made me laugh. It was such a happy place.”
Nguyen began spending most weekends at the zoo, arriving as soon as the gates opened and staying until closing time, filling up hard drives with thousands of pictures and videos of Tai Shan and his parents. She felt a kinship with the animals and felt it her duty to document their lives.
When Tai Shan was sent to China and separated from his parents, Nguyen was heartbroken.
“We were crying,” she said, recalling the snowy day in February 2009 when he was placed into a crate and taken out of the National Zoo. “It was so sad … he was like our first panda.”
She felt similar anguish when Tai Shan’s parents went back to China in November 2023.
Over the past year she still visited the zoo often, stopping by the empty panda habitat where she would reflect on the countless hours she spent there and hope for the pandas’ eventual return. It didn’t take long for her prayers to be answered.
When she attended the member preview on Jan. 10 and saw Bao Li slide on his belly in the snow, it felt like a piece of her heart was restored.
“Words can’t describe how happy I was,” she said. “It was that old feeling. And then going in with my husband – to the place where we met – it was just so special.”
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. has recently welcomed two new panda cubs, sparking a frenzy among panda fanatics across the country. These adorable black and white bears have quickly become the zoo’s newest superstars, drawing large crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the fluffy cubs.
Panda enthusiasts have been flocking to the National Zoo to see the new arrivals, snapping photos and videos to share with their fellow panda lovers. Many fans have even traveled from out of town to witness the cuteness in person, proving just how beloved these iconic animals are.
The zoo has been hosting special events and activities to celebrate the arrival of the panda cubs, giving visitors the chance to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their conservation efforts. From educational talks to panda-themed merchandise, there is no shortage of ways for fans to show their love for these adorable animals.
Whether you’re a longtime panda enthusiast or simply can’t resist their charm, the National Zoo’s new superstars are sure to capture your heart. Don’t miss your chance to see these precious cubs in person and join in on the panda mania sweeping the nation.
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