Madrid Zoo Aquarium said goodbye yesterday to its five giant pandas, which it cared for in its facilities and they are returning to their country of origin, although it has renewed its institutional commitment to China, with the help of the capital's City Council, to receive another pair of these animals in the coming months.
This concludes the technical cooperation agreement and transfer of the breeding pair Hua Zui Ba and Bing Xing who arrived in Madrid in 2007, from the Chengdu giant panda breeding base.
After a 16-year collaboration with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG), previous technical partner, Madrid Zoo has acquired and developed knowledge in the care, conservation and breeding of this emblematic species with the support of Spanish scientific experts in assisted reproduction of threatened species.
A work that has made possible the birth of six panda babies of the current couple: the twins Po and De De (7/9/2010), Xing Bao (30/8/2013), Chulina (30/8/2016) and twins You You and Jiu Jiu (6/9/2021). The end of this cooperation in panda research and conservation in Madrid coincides with the end of the reproductive stage of the couple, aged 20 and 23 respectively, when, as agreed, they return to their country of origin.
A trip to Chengdu, in which they will accompany the couple Hua Zui Ba and Bing from Chengdu.
According to the latest census of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the population of the giant panda in the wild has increased from about 1,100 specimens in the 1980s to 1,900 in 2023, to which 728 specimens in zoos should be added. and breeding centers around the world, including the 46 births that have occurred in 2023.
As part of this farewell celebration for the panda family, the public will be able to visit them and participate in the mural of messages and dedications that will be installed in Chu Lin Square, from February 23 to 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in all free educational activities around the Zoo's panda family.
