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NEW YORK Friday, November 6, 2026

Asia

Atlanta Zoo Welcomes New Pandas After Two-Year Absence

Zoo Atlanta unveils Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, two pandas loaned from China.

New York Editorial News Desk November 6, 2026 1 min read

The Brief

  • Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in September under a 10-year loan agreement.
  • The pandas debuted in a renovated enclosure after acclimating to their habitat.
  • Their arrival marks the return of pandas to the zoo following a 25-year partnership with China.

Ping Ping, a 6-year-old male, and Fu Shuang, a 6-year-old female, made their public debut at Zoo Atlanta on Friday after spending weeks adjusting to their new environment.

The pair arrived in September from China under a 10-year loan agreement, returning to the zoo after a two-year absence.

The Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, which had been empty since 2024, was recently renovated to accommodate the pandas, who are now part of a renewed partnership between Zoo Atlanta and China.

Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., stated during a news conference that the pandas' arrival signifies the renewal of a decade-long bond between China and the zoo.

Zoo Atlanta is one of three U.S. zoos housing pandas, joining the National Zoo in Washington and the San Diego Zoo, which also recently received new panda arrivals.

China has historically used pandas in diplomatic loan programs, with agreements often ending when tensions between the countries rise.

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