US-born giant pandas, beloved by multitudes, leaving zoos in DC, Atlanta for breeding in China
By Brett Zongker, APThursday, February 4, 2010
Pandas leave DC, Atlanta for new homes in China
WASHINGTON — The time has come for two American-born giant pandas to go home to their species’ native land.
On Thursday, 3-year-old Mei Lan (MAY LAHN) of Atlanta and 4½-year-old Tai Shan (TY-shawn) of Washington will fly to new homes in China, to become part of a panda breeding program.
It’s a day panda lovers have been dreading.
Giant pandas have a long history in Washington. The first panda couple, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, arrived in 1972 as a gift to the American people after President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China.
They had five cubs, but none survived.
That’s partly why Tai Shan, the first cub to grow up in the nation’s capital, is so adored.
He’ll be joined by Mei Lan on a FedEx flight to China.
