BEIJING (AP) — San Francisco is the latest U.S. city preparing to receive a pair of pandas from China, in a continuation of Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy.”
San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the panda loan in Beijing on Friday, alongside officials from China Wildlife Conservation Association, or CWCA. It will be San Francisco’s first time hosting the beloved animals long-term — the result of a yearlong advocacy campaign, Breed said.
San Diego previously announced it was receiving two pandas back in February.
China is home to the only natural habitat for pandas and owns most of the black-and-white bears in the world. Beijing loans the animals to other countries as a tool for diplomacy and wildlife conservation.
“San Francisco is absolutely thrilled to be welcoming giant pandas to the San Francisco Zoo,” Breed said after signing a letter of intent for international cooperation on giant panda conservation.
Trump loses bid to halt Jan. 6 lawsuits while he fights criminal charges in the 2020 election case
Toilet revolution delivers healthier lifestyle, novel ideas to China's western plateau
New Year's Day holiday travel plans heating up
Cable car accident: 174 people stranded in the air rescued in Turkey
Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers has a bone bruise in his sore left knee
Conference highlights human rights advancement in Xinjiang
Feature: Blind engineer opens up new vistas with computer game design
West Ham's European hopes hit again with 2
Netflix adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley fuels tourism to tiny Italian town
Kenya’s military chief dies in a helicopter crash
Hybrid solar plant and fish farm in C China's Hubei offers environmental, economic gains