Two giant pandas from China have arrived at Zoo Atlanta, bringing the animals back to the city after a two-year absence.
The pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, reached Atlanta on September 27. They travelled from Chengdu, China, aboard a dedicated FedEx Boeing 777 aircraft.
Zoo Atlanta confirmed their arrival and described it as the start of a new chapter for its panda programme. The animals are in Atlanta under a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation. The agreement involves Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang Begin New Stay
Ping Ping is a male panda, while Fu Shuang is female. Both pandas were born in 2020 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
According to Zoo Atlanta, Ping Ping was born on March 17, 2020. Fu Shuang was born on October 18, 2020.
The two pandas are expected to remain in Atlanta under the new cooperation programme. Reports say the arrangement provides for a 10-year stay at the zoo.
For now, visitors cannot see the pandas. They are completing a routine quarantine period behind the scenes.
Zoo Atlanta said it will announce when the animals are ready to meet the public.
Return of Pandas After Two-Year Gap
The arrival marks the return of giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta after a two-year gap.
The zoo’s previous panda agreement with China ended in 2024. Four pandas then returned to China.
The group included the adult pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang and their daughters Ya Lun and Xi Lun. They left Atlanta in October 2024 and travelled to the Chengdu Research Base.
The previous partnership lasted 25 years. During that period, Lun Lun and Yang Yang produced seven offspring at Zoo Atlanta between 2006 and 2016.
Their return to China left the zoo without giant pandas for the first time in many years.
New Conservation Agreement With China
Zoo Atlanta announced its new panda cooperation agreement in April 2026.
The agreement focuses on giant panda conservation and research. It also allows the zoo to continue its long-standing partnership with Chinese conservation authorities.
Zoo Atlanta said it was honoured to continue working with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The zoo also highlighted conservation and research as key parts of the new partnership.
The latest agreement has brought Atlanta back into the small group of US cities hosting giant pandas.
Atlanta One of Three US Zoos With Pandas
With the arrival of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, Zoo Atlanta is now one of three US zoos housing giant pandas.
The other two are the San Diego Zoo in California and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC.
The return is therefore significant for the zoo and its visitors.
Zoo Atlanta is also the only zoological organisation in the southeastern United States currently housing giant pandas, according to the zoo.
Pandas Linked to ‘Panda Diplomacy’
The arrival also comes amid renewed attention to China’s long-running practice of sending pandas to foreign zoos.
The practice is often described as “panda diplomacy.” China has used panda loans and conservation partnerships to build international ties and promote cooperation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the pandas’ upcoming arrival during his September visit to the United States. Their arrival followed a new cooperation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The latest agreement comes after a period when US-China relations had affected several panda arrangements.
However, panda cooperation between the two countries has continued in recent years.
Special Transport for the Pandas
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang travelled to Atlanta on a special FedEx flight.
The aircraft was a Boeing 777 operated as the “FedEx Panda Express.” FedEx donated the transportation for the animals.
Zoo Atlanta said the pandas arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on September 27. They were then transferred to the zoo.
The journey also involved specialists familiar with panda care.
Chinese veterinarians and breeders are expected to work with the Atlanta team during the animals’ quarantine and adjustment period.
Zoo Prepares for Public Viewing
The zoo has been preparing its panda facilities for the new arrivals.
Zoo Atlanta began preliminary work on upgrades to its giant panda complex in 2025. The improvements were planned in anticipation of a new cooperation agreement with China.
The facility will support the pandas’ care and allow visitors to observe them once the quarantine period ends.
For now, however, the animals remain away from public view.
New Chapter for Zoo Atlanta
The arrival of Ping Ping and Fu Shuang marks a new chapter in Zoo Atlanta’s long association with giant pandas.
The zoo previously hosted pandas for 25 years. That partnership produced seven Atlanta-born cubs and supported conservation and research work.
Now, the new agreement brings another pair of pandas to the city.
As Ping Ping and Fu Shuang complete their quarantine, visitors will have to wait for the zoo’s announcement before seeing them. Meanwhile, their arrival has renewed Atlanta’s connection with one of the world’s most recognisable wildlife species.