As of Aug. 8th 2024, the giant pandas have returned to the San Diego Zoo. They left the zoo in 2019 due to a loan agreement ending, but the China Wildlife Conservation Association signed a cooperation agreement with the San Diego Zoo this year that allowed them to come back.

The giant pandas are a near extinct species and have many organizations attempting to save them, including the San Diego Zoo. San Diego Zoo ambassador Marco Wendt explains how the zoo has found a new method to potentially save the species.

“The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has had a major impact on the progression of the giant panda conservation,” Wendt said. “In the past we were able to create artificial milk to help with the health and vitality for panda cubs without their mothers.”

Advancements like these can help save the endangered panda species which will open pathways to giant panda conservation. The San Diego Zoo explained to China Wildlife Conservation Association what achievements would be possible if the pandas were returned.

“We shared this information with our Chinese partners and were able to increase the survival rate [of pandas] close to 90%, which is incredible,” Wendt said. “Our expertise in conservation science and wildlife care will aid in the global efforts to help further the conservation of these iconic animals.”

The pandas have been in and out of the United States and China for the past several years. The San Diego Zoo having the chance to work alongside the species allows many opportunities to learn more about the species and how to help them.

“The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance had a long partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association helping with the giant panda conservation,” Wendt said. “Eventually the sun needed to set on that partnership, which is why it was exciting to have giant pandas enter the United States in over 40 years. We are so excited to rekindle and expand our impact in giant panda conservation.”

Behind the scenes for caring for the animals of the San Diego Zoo, Wildlife Care Specialists have many responsibilities when it comes to working with the animals. There are many teams at the zoo that support other animals under the care of the wildlife park.

“Our Wildlife Care Specialists teams are multifaceted teams with an array of skill sets depending on the species they care for,” Wendt said. “Our teams’ experiences and past history of working alongside giant pandas makes us an ideal team at the San Diego Zoo.”

According to the loan agreement the San Diego Zoo and China signed, the pandas will be staying in California for a limited amount of time. Wendt describes how the panda’s population conservation will be impacted by this.

“The ten year partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association will only further our conservation efforts,” Wendt said. “The collaboration has greatly advanced giant panda conservation, leading to the downlist of the giant panda’s status from endangered to vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.”

Junior Vice President of the Animal Advocacy Club Natalia Charvel has been to the San Diego Zoo several times in the past. She explains the benefits and drawbacks of the pandas being brought back to San Diego.

“I think it’s the right environment if they’re trying to help the species to continue because there’s people who can help and breed [the pandas],” Charvel said. “At the same time it could be bad because they’re taking them away from their original habitat.”

The San Diego Zoo has many animals located at their wildlife park besides the giant pandas. Charvel describes how the zoo offers opportunities for others seeking a learning experience at the park.

“I feel like the [San Diego Zoo] is a good place to learn about all of these different animals because [people] wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to see these animals and it’s just cool to learn about them,” Charvel said.

Now that the pandas are back at the San Diego Zoo, much research and care for the pandas is yet to come. In the ten year partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will have opportunities to save the panda population.

“In the exciting next step of our partnership, we’re working to improve the overall health and resilience for giant panda populations near extinction and loss of genetic diversity,” Wendt said.