Latest news with #QingBao
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Video captures pandas getting flirty at National Zoo, a hopeful sign they'll make cute baby pandas in the future: experts
Beary romantic! The US's two giant pandas caused a stir at the Smithsonian's National Zoo Friday after they were spotted flirting with each other — in what zookeepers hope could be a sign of potential panda babies to come. A video captured the bear pair, Bao Li and Qing Bao, 'bleating' and 'chirping' at one another from either side of a wall through a metal mesh window that is known as their 'howdy' window at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat inside the Washington, D.C. zoo. Qing Bao in her enclosure at the National Zoo. Smithsonian Zoo In the clip shared by the National Zoo, Qing Bao, the female, stood up and put both of her front paws on the 'howdy' window. The male Bao Li, normally the more talkative of the two pandas, seemed excited by her attention. He pressed his face against the mesh screen and the pandas had a nearly minute-long exchange, the footage shows. The pair exchanged a series of high-pitched squeals and 'bleats' that panda keepers from the Smithsonian describe as 'like a sheep's 'baa,' but with a higher pitch and longer trill.' The two love bears have been in their enclosures since January, and the panda keepers have kept a close eye on their behavior. 'Just as we began to wonder whether our bears were entering 'panda puberty,' something exciting happened,' the experts said. The first positive sign of a connection between them was in April, when Qing Bao approached the 'howdy' window and chirped and bleated at Bao Li. 'A sign that she was very interested in him,' the experts said. Qing Bao — whose name translates to 'precious treasure,' inspired by the lush mountains of China — is usually more reserved and independent than her counterpart, according to the zookeepers. Bao Li, meanwhile, is a showman and a loudmouth who's much more likely to 'bleat' than his female counterpart, they said. When his keepers arrive, he often 'bleats' a greeting at them. His name is a combination of the words 'precious' and 'powerful.' Bao Li in his enclosure at the National Zoo. Smithsonian Zoo Zookeepers hope the flirtations could develop into mating and future panda cubs to help repopulate the endangered species. However, both pandas are a few years away from being able to procreate. Bao Li and Qing Bao join a partnership between China and the US that goes back more than 50 years. China loans a pair of pandas to American zoos for 10-year spans before the bears are returned to China. If a pair has cubs, the babies are sent back to China to be raised in their natural habitat. The deal is a show of goodwill between the two superpowers and an attempt to help the endangered species make panda babies. Qing Bao and Bao Li will live at the National Zoo until April 2034, according to the agreement. Many of the behaviors the panda keepers saw in Bao Li were similar to his grandfather, Tian Tian, when he was readying himself for breeding; and many of Qing Bao's behaviors mirrored those of Bao Li's grandmother, Mei Xiang, as she approached mating age, experts said.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
House fire in Loudoun County causes about $100K in damages
ASHBURN () — The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal's Office said an electrical malfunction caused a house fire Wednesday afternoon. At around 4:40 p.m., firefighters responded to a house fire in the 42000 block of Waxpool Road in Ashburn. Units from Moorefield, Ashburn, Kincora, Dulles South and Kirkpatrick Farms also responded. There, crews could see fire showing from the roof of the two-story single-family home. 'Giant Panda Cam' returns to DC's National Zoo: How to see Bao Li, Qing Bao Firefighters went into the home and saw an active fire in the attic. The fire was extinguished. The Fire Marshal's Office said an overloaded electrical circuit ignited insulation inside a pipe chase in a bedroom upstairs, causing about $100,000 in damages. No injuries were reported. One person is being displaced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
D.C. welcomes new giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao
Pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao made their giant debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo Friday, launching a new decade of panda diplomacy and tourism in D.C. Why it matters: Pandas have become a D.C. symbol, synonymous with cherry blossoms and the three-star flag, and their return is hailed as a giant step forward for the city. Driving the news: The three-year-old bears, which arrived from China in October and acclimated in quarantine, were welcomed in a ceremony featuring Chinese ambassador Xie Feng, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch, and zoo director Brandie Smith. Yu Ying Charter School kindergarteners, who sang and performed a poem, "Giant Panda Friendship Rhyme," were first to burst through the gates — accompanied by Crush Funk Brass Band and a dancing bear. The debut also unveils the remodeled and expanded David M. Rubenstein Panda Habitat, which was revamped for $25 million (with $10 million from Rubenstein himself). It features new climbing areas, pools, bamboo stands, and more. What they're saying: " Our shared love for pandas has deepened my conviction that China and the United States have much more in common than what divides us," Feng said in his ceremony remarks. "Whenever I think of what we've achieved in panda conservation, I have more confidence that as long as we work together, we can make great things happen to the benefit of both our countries and the world." Between the lines: It's a sentiment echoed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who's called pandas"envoys of friendship" — notable at a time of thawing Chinese-U.S. relations. Zoom in: The young bears look friendly in their new habitat, feeding on locally raised bamboo every few hours and tumbling around in their active mornings and afternoons (zookeepers note they typically nap in the late morning, good to know before visiting). It can be tough to tell them apart. Bao Li — a nepo-bear, the son of Bao Bao, who was born at the zoo in 2013 — is bigger. His black eye patches are wider. Qing Bao is slighter with a fuzzier face. What they're saying: " It's been fun to see how different they are," zoo director Brandie Lee tells Axios. "Qing Bao is our girl. I love her because she's independent. She likes to do her own thing. Her happy place is climbing up a tree and staying there for a few hours." "Bao Li is more people-centric, he talks to his keepers all the time." What we're watching: The zoo's new high-tech Giant Panda Cam launched Friday morning, and will broadcast the bears with its 40 cameras from 7pm-7am daily, replaying during the bears' private hours. If you go: Visiting the zoo is free, and you don't need a special panda pass (though you can buy a special panda-themed SmarTrip Metro card to get there). Everyone — even infants — needs an online pass to enter, and a few same-day passes may be offered at the gates. Paid parking reservations can be made online. The zoo is expecting thousands of visitors, and set up a queue for the pandas by the Asia Trail entrance, across from the Visitor's Center. Plan for long lines and give enough time to reach the Panda House before the last entry at 3:30pm daily. The bottom line: If you need a bear-ake, the nearby panda-conomy has kicked into full gear. Baked by Yael across from the main gates serves panda pops and cookies, as well as coffee and bagel sandwiches. The Bamboo Bar, a new panda pop-up next door, goes stronger with panda-ritas and "Bao-zy" spiked cocoas.
CNN
27-01-2025
- Science
- CNN
VIDEO: How pandas are transferred from zoos in China to DC
CNN gained exclusive access on the ground in Sichuan province as giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao transition from southwest China to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC. Senior National Correspondent David Culver takes a look at why they are causing a panda frenzy in the US in a new episode of 'The Whole Story: Operation Panda,' airing Sunday, January 26 at 8pm ET/PT on CNN.
Express Tribune
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Panda Cam is back to watch Bao Li and Qing Bao live at National Zoo
Listen to article Giant panda enthusiasts have a reason to celebrate: Bao Li and Qing Bao, the National Zoo's new panda ambassadors, made their highly anticipated public debut on Friday at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). Zoo workers and DC officials unveiled the pandas in a special ceremony, dubbing the city the "District of Panda." The new arrivals mark a fresh chapter in the Zoo's five-decade-long panda breeding and conservation program. 'For over 50 years, giant pandas have been an integral part of the fabric and culture of Washington, D.C., thanks in large part to the support of the communities that live and work in the District,' said Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director of NZCBI. 'Bao Li and Qing Bao have won our hearts, and we're excited to welcome panda fans back to the Zoo—the only place in the nation where you can see giant pandas for free.' Panda Cam: A virtual window to the Pandas' world To celebrate the pandas' return, the Zoo has relaunched its popular Giant Panda Cam, sponsored by The Boeing Company. With 40 high-definition cameras streaming from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET daily, fans can catch Bao Li and Qing Bao's antics from anywhere in the world. After-hours rebroadcasts ensure global audiences don't miss out. The Zoo is also hosting the District of Panda Party, a public celebration from Jan. 24 to Feb. 9. The festivities will include Lunar New Year events, screenings of Kung Fu Panda, and cultural activities sponsored by the Chinese Embassy, Boeing, and other corporate partners. For event details and updates, visit the National Zoo's website .
