San Diego Zoo says farewell to last 2 giant pandas

April 08, 2019 - 8:51 PM

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Zoo is saying goodbye to two big, furry superstars.

The zoo on Saturday began a three-week farewell celebration for its last two giant pandas. Bai Yun, a 27-year-old female, and her 6-year-old son, Xiao Liwu, will be sent to China this spring.

A male, Gao Gao, returned to China last October.

For more than two decades the zoo was part of an international effort to save the panda species, which at one point was on the verge of extinction and is now listed as vulnerable.

Several cubs were born at the zoo, helping to repopulate the species.

There are now nearly 2,000 pandas in China.

News from © The Associated Press, 2019

More News ...

iN RESPONSE: Readers have their say
Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of April 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjo

Fruit packers near Kelowna fined another $78,000
A fruit packing plant in the Ellison area east of Kelowna was hit with another $78,368 in fines for discharging effluent into a failed septic field. That’s now more than $110,000 in fines since 2022 for the same issue at Sandher Fruit

Manitoba government plans to lift ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is planning to end its ban on homegrown recreational cannabis — a move that would leave Quebec as the only province with such a restriction. "We're just allowing Manitobans to have the same

Tranquille developer blames province after multiple ALC denials
The province's Agricultural Land Commission has heard multiple pleas from the owner of a historic Kamloops property who wants to build an agricultural suburb on the massive site. Each time Ignition Developments goes to the commission, i

Popular kelowna News

'Heartbreaking': Kamloops residents reflect on demolition of decades-old hotel, nightclub
A building with a long and entertaining past has been demolished to make way for new housing developments on Kamloops North Shore, leaving some residents feeling nostalgic. The Northbridge H
April 21, 2024 6:00 PM
Kamloops serial rapist gets sentence doubled
Troy Schank was already in custody for rape when he pleaded guilty in a Kamloops courtroom to two more sexual assaults. The 37-year-old's time in prison doubled to five years April 22 fo
April 22, 2024 5:07 PM
Kamloops RCMP knew 'suspicious debris' was a body long before informing the public
Kamloops Mounties issued a cryptic news release in January after officers blocked a downtown riverfront trail and asked the public to stay clear of the area. The public would learn the next
April 22, 2024 7:00 AM
UBCO not releasing engineering reports for downtown excavation that caused evacuation
UBC won't make public the engineering reports for the construction site in downtown Kelowna that caused the evacuation of a subsidized housing complex. “At this time, I’m not
April 23, 2024 7:00 AM
Kamloops mayor considers selling business, home to avoid conflicts, pay legal bills
The mayor of Kamloops is considering his options as he looks to sell his home and his business. Reid Hamer-Jackson said he forgot about the listing, which was posted two years ago, but
April 20, 2024 7:00 AM

Trending Now

TRENDING NOW: Doggo is super excited for dinner

View Site in: Desktop | Mobile

San Diego Zoo says farewell to last 2 giant pandas

Trending Now

Kamloops

Kelowna

Penticton

Vernon