Could pandas be coming back to Zoo Atlanta? Maybe!
Spokespeople said on Wednesday they are 'currently engaging in dialogue' with Chinese partners on a future panda program.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
But there's not currently a formal agreement and no timeline for when you might be available to visit pandas in Georgia.
The zoo says they're hopeful, though, and so they are starting a redesign of an expansion to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center.
TRENDING STORIES:
Suspect, victim in deadly shooting at McDonald's in Gwinnett were coworkers, police say
3 children killed in fire at Atlanta apartment complex
Delta offering $30,000 to every passenger on plane that flipped in Toronto
In October, pandas Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun and Xi Lun left Zoo Atlanta for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, marking the first time in 25 years that pandas didn't call Zoo Atlanta home.
Lun Lun and Yang Yang arrived at Zoo Atlanta in 1999 and are parents of Ya Lun and Xi Lun.
Now, the whole family lives together at the Chengdu Research Base.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
6 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Don't make this mistake — 5 plants you should never grow near your house, and why
Plants and shrubs add a beautiful accent to any home, and can form a stunning backdrop to set off a property. However, before choosing any plant that you take a particular fancy to, if you are growing trees and plants near your home, you need to be particularly careful what you choose. I made a big mistake when I planted an eucalyptus in my backyard, as it grew far bigger than I was expecting, and subsequently it had to be dug up. It would have been an even bigger disaster if it had been planted close to my house. So, when you're adding plants next to your property, you need to give careful consideration to what you select. How big will it grow? Will the roots damage the foundations of your home and plumbing, or will they lift up paths and driveways? Will the plant damage masonry, guttering, or roofing? My intention isn't to take the joy out of brightening up your surroundings with plants, but to warn you of the dangers of putting the wrong plant in the wrong place. To help you avoid making a planting mistake, I've gathered five of the worst culprits that you should never plant next to your home. English ivy is an invasive climber that can quickly take over your home by working its way into small cracks and crevices in your walls, ultimately damaging the structure of your home. If grown against walls, ivy will trap in moisture, increasing the likelihood of mold growth — another major issue you'll want to avoid. What's more, if you try to remove ivy, the vines will work against you, and they will cling to your siding, causing damage as you pull. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Trumpet vine is an attractive deciduous, woody climber with orange and scarlet blooms, and it will attract hummingbirds to your yard. However, although it will add a splash of color to your home and attract the birds and the bees, it likes to cling. The USDA states it's an invasive weed and 'if not controlled, rampant growth will become a problem'. It advises thinning it throughout the growing season and cutting it back in winter to prevent aggressive spread. But apart from its fast growth, it shoots out aerial roots, which cling onto walls, helping it climb. It also self-seeds, sending out unwanted new plants where you hadn't intended. Wisteria's blooms make a beautiful display when they adorn the front of houses. But, before you plant this vine, consider the pitfalls. Once in full flourish, the heavy vines wrap around trellis, rails, and gutters, and will cause damage to your home. Non-native varieties, such as Chinese and Japanese wisteria, are recognised as nuisance plants in many states, and can grow up to 60 feet a year, making them tough plants to manage. However, the wisteria native to the U.S., Wisteria futescens, is a bit less aggressive, although it can still grow up to 30 feet tall a year, and its roots can cause serious damage if planted next to your house. I have the good fortune of being able to admire a neighbor's wisteria without the work involved in keeping one tame. But if you do decide to plant a wisteria next to your house, make sure to prune it regularly to ensure it doesn't get out of hand. These high-quality, Swiss-made pruners have a hardened steel blade capable of cutting 0.8 inches of material. The smooth, red handle is ergonomically designed to provide comfort while cutting. These pruners are ideal for medium-sized hands. Arborvitae is often chosen as an evergreen hedge to provide privacy, as its dense, compact growth provides an ideal screen. However, although it's a fast grower and may seem the perfect choice if you're looking for a quick hedge, it keeps on growing. The 'Green Giant' can grow three feet in a year and can reach 50-60ft when mature, with a 12-20ft span. So, unless you prune your tree regularly, it will soon become an unmanageable monster on your doorstep. But, unlike other trees, it only has shallow roots, so it's unlikely to damage your foundations or surrounding pipe work. However, it's best to keep it a safe distance from your home to prevent the risk of branches growing into structures. Bamboo can add a touch of intrigue to frame your home, and I grow one in a container to add privacy. However, when planted in the ground without the root restriction of a pot, it can become overgrown. One Tree Planted states that according to Guinness World Records, the fastest-growing species of bamboo can grow up to 35 inches in a day. There are two types of bamboo, with one being more invasive than the other. If you pick running bamboo, the rhizomes grow horizontally and can spread in cracks and crevices, causing damage to your foundations, floors, and plumbing. However, the rhizomes of clumping bamboo grow vertically and aren't invasive.
Epoch Times
a day ago
- Epoch Times
Chinese Climber Dies After Summiting World's Second-Highest Peak, K2
GILGIT, Pakistan—A Chinese mountaineer has died after being hit by falling rocks while descending from the world's second-highest peak in northern Pakistan, officials said Wednesday. Guan Jing was struck on Tuesday while coming down from K2, a day after reaching the summit with a group of climbers, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Faraq said efforts were underway to retrieve her body.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Bloomberg
Toxic Spill at China-Owned Zambian Mine 30 Times Worse Than Estimated
The partial collapse of a waste dam at a Chinese state-owned copper mine in Zambia may have released 30 times more toxic sludge into the environment than previously reported, according to an independent evaluation of the disaster. At least 1.5 million tons of the poisonous substance escaped when a reservoir failed at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Ltd. mine near the northern city of Kitwe, findings from the company hired to assess the environmental damage showed. That would fill more than 400 Olympic-sized pools and rank the incident among the mining industry's worst catastrophes globally.
