San Diego could become the first city in the United States to welcome a new pair of giant pandas in the latest round of a collaborative conservation effort with China.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced that it has signed a cooperative agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and filed a permit application with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Two pandas could arrive by the end of the summer, according to reports.
“California and China share deep cultural and economic ties, and we look forward to the opportunity to again welcome these iconic bears to the Golden State,” Governor Gavin Newsom, who led a weeklong visit to China last October, said in a statement. “From securing a safe future for this national treasure to fighting climate change, we’re proud to continue our long history of working together towards shared goals.”
The state hopes this announcement will lead to further exchanges and cooperation between California and China. SDSun
