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Three giant pandas on loan to U.S. return home

The National Zoo’s three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji, on Wednesday began their long trip to China.

By Associated Press

Nov. 8, 2023

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VIDEO COURTESY AP
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji plays at his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, Sept. 28. Early Wednesday morning, Nov. 8, three large white crates containing giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji were loaded by forklifts onto waiting trucks for the trip to Chengdu, China. 
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda Mei Xiang eats bamboo in his enclosure at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji eats bamboo in his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 28.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda Tian Tian is transported in a crate to depart the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington en route to Washington Dulles International Airport, where he will travel aboard the FedEx Panda Express to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is transported in a crate to depart the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington en route to Washington Dulles International Airport, where he will travel aboard the FedEx Panda Express to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute staff members carry bamboo to be transported with giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi on their journey aboard the Panda Express to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute staff members carry bamboo to be transported with giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi on their journey aboard the Panda Express to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giant panda Mei Xiang is transported in a crate to depart the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington en route to Washington Dulles International Airport, where she will travel aboard the FedEx Panda Express to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brandie Smith, director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, speaks to media during the transportation of three giant pandas to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minister of the Chinese Embassy Xu Xueyuan, center, speaks to media during the transportation of three giant pandas to China, Wednesday, Nov. 8.

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