San Francisco Mayor Breed announced on Thursday (April 18) that as part of the Chinese panda diplomacy program, giant pandas will be introduced to the San Francisco Zoo.
Breed is currently in Beijing where she made the announcement along with Chinese officials. According to Breed’s office, she signed a formal lease agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to house giant pandas at the San Francisco Zoo.
It is still unclear how many pandas will be sent to the city and when they will arrive.
In 1984 and 1985, there were giant pandas temporarily housed at the San Francisco Zoo. Currently, there are no pandas in California. In 2019, the last batch of giant pandas were returned to China from the San Diego Zoo.
Breed’s office stated in a press release, “Having giant pandas on semi-permanent loan holds significant importance for the local Chinese and Asian American communities in San Francisco, as well as the city’s economy and tourism industry, greatly enhancing San Francisco’s tourist attractions and services.”
Reports indicate that engineers from the Beijing Zoo have visited San Francisco to meet with local zoo engineers regarding the enclosure requirements for the giant pandas.