The Berlin Zoo has recently had to say goodbye to the very first giant pandas ever born in Germany. Affectionately known as Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan in their native China, Pit and Paule embarked on a truly remarkable journey back to their home country. This journey, however, was not without its challenges, as it was delayed due to the unexpected and far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, after what must have felt like an eternity, the panda brothers took flight aboard an Air China cargo jet and have safely arrived at their new residence – the Chengdu Panda Base in China. Throughout the journey, the zoo’s head of animal health, Andreas Pauly, reported that the pandas coped incredibly well, proving that when the bamboo is just right, pandas are wonderfully relaxed, even at 30,000 feet in the air.
Now settled in China, Pit and Paule are spending the next 30 days in quarantine at the panda base in order to become fully acclimated to their new environment. This is quite a contrast to their star status in Berlin, which they have enjoyed since their birth in 2019. But their return to China has always been part of the plan from the very beginning.
In the past, China famously gave pandas as diplomatic gifts to friendly nations. However, a new era has dawned, and the country now enters into commercial agreements to loan pandas to zoos around the world. This marks a significant shift in China’s approach to panda conservation efforts.
As for Pit and Paule’s parents, Jiao Qing and Meng Meng, who arrived in Berlin back in 2017, they are expected to remain in the German capital for a further nine years. It was decided early on that the young pandas would return to China once they reached the age of 4.
Their departure was initially planned for when they were between 2 and 3 years old, but the pandemic forced a change in these plans, causing a delay in their return to their ancestral homeland.
The birth of giant pandas is always a momentous occasion, given the challenges they face in breeding. With only about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity around the world, each new birth brings hope for the conservation of these beloved creatures.
The journey of Pit and Paule from Berlin to China represents more than just a relocation; it’s a symbol of the ongoing collaboration between zoos, conservation efforts, and the preservation of endangered species. It captures the imagination and serves as a potent reminder of the beauty and fragility of the natural world. As they bid farewell to Berlin, the panda brothers carry with them the hopes and dreams of a brighter future for their species.
