San Francisco Sun

BEIJING – Mayor London N. Breed has announced that the San Francisco Zoo will soon be home to Giant Pandas from China as part of China’s Panda Diplomacy program. The memorandum of understanding signed by Mayor Breed and the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) marks the first official leased agreement for Giant Pandas to reside at the San Francisco Zoo.

Mayor Breed expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "San Francisco is absolutely thrilled that we will be welcoming Giant Pandas to our San Francisco Zoo," and added, "This is a momentous opportunity, and one I am grateful for, I know I join so many who can’t wait to see them in San Francisco."

The decision to bring Giant Pandas to San Francisco follows advocacy efforts between the City, the Chinese government, and local leaders, culminating in a historic agreement. President Xi Jinping of China, during his visit to San Francisco last November for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), expressed his commitment to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, including the return of China’s Panda Diplomacy program to the U.S.

In preparation for the pandas' arrival, engineers from the Beijing Zoo have already begun collaborating with San Francisco Zoo engineers to design suitable enclosures. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration and CWCA will send a delegation from Beijing to San Francisco in May to finalize plans for the pandas' accommodation.

The presence of Giant Pandas at the San Francisco Zoo is expected to have a significant impact on the local Chinese and API communities, as well as boost the city's economy and tourism sector. The last time the San Francisco Zoo hosted Giant Pandas was in 1984 and 1985, drawing large crowds and generating heightened interest in the zoo.

With the construction of a specialized panda enclosure underway, San Francisco is gearing up to welcome these beloved creatures, further strengthening the cultural ties between the city and China.