New Ten-Year Conservation Agreement Facilitates Transfer of Two Giant Pandas to Zoo Atlanta

Apr 25, 2026, 08:20

Introduction

Two giant pandas from China are being transferred to Zoo Atlanta under a new 10-year research and conservation agreement. The pandas, a male named Ping Ping and a female named Fu Shuang, come from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province. The agreement was signed last year between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the U.S. zoo.

Main Body

The agreement continues a bilateral 'panda bond' that has existed between the two nations for more than 20 years, according to the Chinese association. Zoo Atlanta previously hosted pandas Yang Yang and Lun Lun starting in 1999 under a 25-year arrangement. That pair produced seven cubs and returned to China in 2024 with their two youngest offspring after the previous deal ended. In preparation for the arrival of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, the U.S. side renovated the pandas' habitat to improve comfort and safety, as stated by the Chinese association. Zoo Atlanta's president, Raymond B. King, expressed that the institution is honored to again serve as stewards of the species and looks forward to meeting the new pandas. Furthermore, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman noted that the new agreement will contribute to the well-being of giant pandas and to the friendship between the people of China and the United States. The announcement of the panda transfer comes at the same time as an expected meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next month.

Conclusion

The transfer of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to Zoo Atlanta under a new 10-year agreement shows a continuation of long-term China-U.S. cooperation in giant panda conservation. Both sides have expressed optimism about the partnership and its benefits for the species and relations between the two countries.

Vocabulary Learning

bilateral (adj.)
involving two parties / involving two groups, countries, or organizations雙邊的
Example:The agreement continues a bilateral 'panda bond' that has existed between the two nations for more than 20 years.
facilitates (v.)
makes easier / to make an action or process easier促進；使容易
Example:The new ten-year conservation agreement facilitates the transfer of two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta.
offspring (n.)
young / the children or young of a person, animal, or plant後代；子女
Example:That pair produced seven cubs and returned to China with their two youngest offspring.
renovated (v.)
refurbished / to repair and improve a building or space翻新；修繕
Example:The U.S. side renovated the pandas' habitat to improve comfort and safety.
stewards (n.)
caretakers / people who are responsible for protecting or managing something守護者；管理者
Example:Zoo Atlanta's president expressed that the institution is honored to again serve as stewards of the species.

Sentence Learning

The agreement was signed last year between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the U.S. zoo.
Passive Voice The passive voice shifts focus from who performed the action to the action itself and the object (the agreement). This is common in formal reporting to emphasize the event rather than the agent.被動語態 被動語態將焦點從動作執行者轉移到動作本身及受詞（協議）。這在正式報道中常見，用以強調事件而非執行者。
The agreement continues a bilateral ''panda bond'' that has existed between the two nations for more than 20 years, according to the Chinese association.
Relative Clause The relative clause introduced by 'that' provides additional information about the 'panda bond', specifying its duration. It helps combine two ideas into one sentence, making the text more concise and logical.關係從句 由 'that' 引導的關係從句提供關於「熊貓聯繫」的額外信息，說明其持續時間。這有助於將兩個想法合併到一個句子中，使文本更簡潔、邏輯更清晰。
That pair produced seven cubs and returned to China in 2024 with their two youngest offspring after the previous deal ended.
Linking Word 'after' 'After' introduces a time clause that indicates the sequence of events. It shows that the return happened following the end of the previous deal, providing a clear cause-and-effect or temporal relationship.連接詞 'after' 'After' 引導一個時間從句，表示事件的先後順序。它顯示回國發生在上一份協議結束之後，提供了清晰的因果或時間關係。
Furthermore, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman noted that the new agreement will contribute to the well-being of giant pandas and to the friendship between the people of China and the United States.
Linking Word 'Furthermore' 'Furthermore' is used to add an additional point that supports or extends the previous argument. It signals to the reader that more information is coming, improving the flow and coherence of the text.連接詞 'Furthermore' 'Furthermore' 用於添加一個支持或延伸前文論點的額外觀點。它向讀者表明將有更多信息，從而改善文本的流暢性和連貫性。
The announcement of the panda transfer comes at the same time as an expected meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next month.
Linking Phrase 'at the same time as' This phrase connects two events that occur concurrently, highlighting their temporal alignment. It helps the reader understand the context and significance of the announcement in relation to the meeting.連接短語 'at the same time as' 這個短語連接兩個同時發生的事件，強調它們在時間上的重合。它有助於讀者理解該公告相對於會議的背景和重要性。