The National Zoo’s three giant pandas — Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji — have been returned to China.
The pandas traveled on a specially equipped Boeing FedEx Panda Express to Chengdu, China.
This is the first time in 23 years that the National Zoo has been without pandas.
Zoos across the country are returning their giant pandas to China as their loan agreements expire.
In 2024, for the first time in more than 50 years, there will be no pandas in the United States.
Several other countries around the world are also returning their pandas to China.
Giant pandas are China’s national animal and are considered a symbol of peace and friendship.