Giant Pandas Are Back in Atlanta After Nearly Two Years Away

If you have missed seeing giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta, there is some good news. Two new pandas arrived in Atlanta on September 27, bringing them back to the zoo after nearly two years away.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang flew from Chengdu, China, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on a special FedEx Boeing 777 known as the “Panda Express.” FedEx donated the transportation for the trip.

The pair will live at Zoo Atlanta through a new giant panda conservation agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Zoo Atlanta is now one of only three zoos in the U.S. with giant pandas and the only one in the Southeast.

Don’t head to the zoo expecting to see them just yet. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are currently behind the scenes and will spend about a month in quarantine before their public debut.

Meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang soon

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Ping Ping is a male who was born on March 17, 2020, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Fu Shuang is a female from the same facility and was born on October 18, 2020.

Zoo Atlanta says Ping Ping’s name is part of a name he shares with his twin brother and represents a blessing for a smooth, healthy life. Fu Shuang’s name comes from “Fu Lu” and means “happiness.”

Both pandas traveled in special crates with Zoo Atlanta animal care specialists nearby.

They Had The Plane To Themselves

It turns out Ping Ping and Fu Shuang had a very private flight to Atlanta. FedEx says the pandas were the only cargo on the nonstop flight from Chengdu. They traveled with fresh bamboo, water, and some of their favorite treats.

They also spent time getting used to their travel crates before the flight. FedEx has helped transport giant pandas for years. The company says this was its 23rd panda transport to or from China since 2000.

Atlanta Has A Long History With Pandas

This isn’t Zoo Atlanta’s first time caring for giant pandas. Lun Lun and Yang Yang arrived in 1999 and lived at the zoo for 25 years. The pair had seven offspring between 2006 and 2016, including two sets of twins.

Lun Lun, Yang Yang and their youngest daughters, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, left Atlanta for China on October 12, 2024. Now, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are starting a new chapter for the zoo. There isn’t an exact date yet for when visitors will be able to see them.