Ping Ping and Fu Shuang head to Zoo Atlanta after careful selection

Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, departed from Chengdu in southwest China early on Sunday aboard a chartered flight bound for Zoo Atlanta in the United States, where they will stay for ten years under an international cooperation programme.

The pair was selected after a careful process, according to Li Mingxi, deputy director of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Four factors guide such choices: age, genetics, health and temperament.

"We can't choose a panda that's too young, because it has no life experience, its ability to take care of itself is relatively poor, and it would be more susceptible to external influences," Li said. "Of course, we also can't choose one that's too old, since being too old would make it hard for it to live there for ten years. So we usually choose pandas between four and six years of age."

Genetics matters because the two bears carry the hopes of people in both countries. "The hope is that they will reproduce and eventually return to China as a family," Li said. Health is also essential, with the selected pandas needing to be energetic enough for a decade in a new environment. Temperament is the fourth factor, and the pandas should have gentle personalities.

Ping Ping, a male born on March 17, 2020, is easily recognised by his large, dark eye rims. He has a stocky build, moves nimbly and is skilled at climbing trees, often resting among the branches. Fu Shuang, a female born on October 18, 2020, has a small tuft of fluffy fur on her head and a full, protruding forehead. She has a round appearance, reacts quickly and forages well.

Before departure, the pandas spent a month in quarantine in a closed environment to limit exposure to outside factors, especially disease. During that period they were observed, assessed and given intensified training. The journey to the United States involves several transport stages and more than ten hours in the air. Because giant pandas are sensitive to noise, which is the biggest challenge in transit, the training focused on helping them get used to sounds they may encounter.

Zoo Atlanta has carried out recommendations from Chinese experts and completed major renovations. The upgraded facilities include a significantly expanded indoor exhibit area, new enrichment features such as climbing structures, rock platforms and a pool, and an improved monitoring system that provides more comprehensive real-time information on conditions inside and outside the enclosures.