San Diego, CA
San Diego Zoo debuts two giant pandas from China in key conservation partnership
A pair of pandas are making their big American debut.
Two giant pandas from China have officially arrived at the San Diego Zoo with the grand re-opening of their exhibit on Aug. 8.
The pandas, named Xin Bao and Yun Chuan, will live in the zoo’s newly renovated and expanded Panda Ridge, which is inspired by the landscapes of their native habitats in the Suchuan, Gansu and Shanxi provinces, according to the zoo’s website.
SAN DIEGO ZOO TO WELCOME PAIR OF GIANT PANDAS FROM CHAIN UNDER CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP
The bears, the first to enter the U.S. in 21 years, arrived safely on June 27, the zoo reported.
Yun Chuan, the almost 5-year-old male panda, is identifiable by his long, slightly pointed nose.
This photo released by the San Diego Zoo shows giant panda Yun Chuan, a male, on April 25, 2024, in the Sichuan province of China. (Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo via AP)
His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. Yun Chuan is active, but is “known to be quite gentle,” said the zoo.
Xin Bao is an almost 4-year-old female recognized by her round face and fluffy ears.
Xin Bao’s name means “precious treasure of prosperity and abundance,” and she’s described as “very active, alert, witty and an excellent climber.”
OUTSIDE OF CHINA, PANDAS ARE ONLY FOUND IN THESE 5 ZOOS AROUND THE WORLD
The pandas’ arrival is the result of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 30-year partnership with conservationists in China, which aims to protect and recover giant pandas and bamboo forests.
“By uniting our strengths, we’re restoring flourishing populations and healthy ecosystems, so giant pandas can thrive,” the zoo states on its website.
In this photo released by the Xinhua News Agency, giant panda Xin Bao, a female, is seen on a tree at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Yanan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on April 18, 2024. (Xue Chen/Xinhua via AP, File)
“In the exciting next step of our partnership, we’re working to improve overall health and resilience for populations vulnerable to extinction and loss of genetic diversity,” the statement continued.
‘Hope and prosperity’
Species conservation has been at the forefront of global efforts since the bears’ populations dwindled in the 1990s.
The San Diego Zoo built an alliance with China to “shift panda recovery from an uncertain future to one of hope and prosperity,” the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wrote in a June article.
PANDAS TO RETURN TO SAN DIEGO ZOO AS CHINA BRINGS BACK ‘PANDA DIPLOMACY’
The zoo welcomed its first giant pandas in 1996, making “critical” discoveries about the animals’ reproductive behavior as well as physiology, health, genetics, nutrition and habitat needs, according to the zoo.
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“We developed a giant panda milk formula, and together with our partners, other neonatal techniques that drastically increased survival rates for nursery-raised cubs from less than 10% to more than 90%,” the zoo wrote in an article.
In this photo released by the Xinhua News Agency, giant panda Yun Chuan eats at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Yanan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on April 18, 2024. (Xue Chen/Xinhua via AP, File)
In 1999, the alliance also achieved the first successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China.
The pandas, along with their U.S.-born babies, were sent back to China at the end of their 12-year loan agreement.
DC’S SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO TO WELCOME PAIR OF YOUNG PANDAS FROM CHINA
In 2016, the conservation status of giant pandas changed from endangered to vulnerable.
Now, the offspring of previous San Diego-raised pandas are returning to the U.S. to further conservation efforts.
The San Diego Zoo built an alliance with China to “shift panda recovery from an uncertain future to one of hope and prosperity,” the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wrote in a June article. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
People visiting the San Diego Zoo can view the pandas for free, or they can book an early-morning walking tour that includes accompaniment by an expert guide and exclusive viewings.
As of Feb. 2024, Zoo Atlanta is the only other U.S. zoo to house giant pandas, including the first panda twins born in America in more than a quarter-century, according to the AP.
Giant pandas Yun Chuan (left) and Xin Bao (right) will live in the San Diego Zoo’s newly renovated and expanded Panda Ridge, which is inspired by the landscapes of the animals’ native habitats in the Suchuan, Gansu and Shanxi provinces. (AP)
The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is expecting the arrival of two young giant pandas by the end of 2024, Reuters reported in May.
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This is just months after the zoo returned three bears to China in Nov. 2023 amid heightened U.S.-China tensions.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for comment.
Here is some of the dining news from across San Diego County, as well as some upcoming events for foodies.
Cala café opens in La Jolla: From 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Amy de Leon will host the grand opening of her new restaurant Cala La Jolla Café in La Jolla’s historic Arcade building. Cala will offer what she calls an “omakase” coffee and matcha experience, breakfast and lunch menus and fresh-made pastries. De Leon, a real estate agent, also owns a coffee shop on the UC San Diego campus. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. 7910 Girard Ave., La Jolla. 858-333-8610, calalajolla.com.
Board & Brew opens in Midway District: This sandwich-and-draft beer quick-service restaurant chain has opened a new location near the USS Midway Museum. Founded in 1979, the company now dozens of locations in California, Arizona and Texas. Shop hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 825 N. Harbor St., Suite 109, San Diego. boardandbrew.com.
Vincenzo debuts pasta program: Vicenzo Cucina & Lounge in Little Italy has introduced an in-house pasta program powered by its new artisan pasta-making machine that guests can see churning out different varieties of pasta in the restaurants’ front window. The handmade pasta wil be served with lunch and dinner entrées. 550 W. Date St., Suite A, San Diego. vincenzosd.com
Urban Plates new summer menu: Urban Plates, with 22 locations statewide including Carlsbad, Del Mar and La Jolla, has unveiled new drinks and dishes this month for its summer menu. New dishes include a BBQ jalapeño cheesebuger, Southwest grilled chicken salad and a superfood grilled chicken salad. There’s also a new lineup of refreshing fruit-based “cooloer” drinks priced at $4.50. They include strawberry basil lemonade, pineapple coconut lime, organic lemonade and dragon fruit and strawberry. urbanplates.com
Del Mar festival lineup announced: This year’s Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, returning with seven events Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, has unveiled some of the culinary headliners who will be cooking at the event. They are Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman; cookbook author and TV food show judge Aarti Sequeira; Camelback Mountain executive chef Beau MacMillan; “Top Chef” victor and now chef/co-owner of Huson in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, Buddha Lo; cookbook author and Weelicious.com media platform founder Catherine McCord; L.A.-based chef Jackson Kalb; Pei Wei culinary executive, Food Network host and contestant and cookbook author Jet Tila; Clutch Chicken restaurang group founder and TV cooking show contestant Kelsey Murphy; chef, author TV personality and Morph Hospitality Group co-founder Maneet Chauhan; and James Beard-nominated chef of the Colorado restaurant Mawa’s Kitchen, Mawa McQueen. Tickets are now on sale at delmar.wine
Lion’s Share + Animae family-style collab: On July 9, two downtown restaurants will collaborate on ANIMAENIACS, a family-style dinner for parties of six. The Lion’s Share chef Dante Romero and Animae chef Tara Monsod will create a multicourse meal that draws on Romero’s Mexican heritage and Monsod’s Filipino heritage. The all-inclusive meal will include three beverages per person including cocktails, beer or non-alcoholic, and an after-party. Seatings are available at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. July 9. $1,080 for a party of six. The Lion’s Share, 629 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. Reservations at exploretock.com/the-lions-share-san-diego.
Tiki Oasis returns: The annual Tiki Oasis convention, which takes place each summer at the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley, has announced its 2026 dates and theme. This year’s 26th convention, titled “Psychadelic Tiki,” will run Aug. 5-9. This year’s convention will include an art exhibition, more than 40 seminars, a 150-vendor marketplace, live entertainment and more. There will also be a sunset luau dinner at The Catamaran Resort. Details at tikioasis.com.
Pam Kragen, Union-Tribune
The San Diego State Aztecs are exuding a vibe that is catching recruits’ attention both on and off the field.
The latest is Travon Garrison, a 1,000-yard receiver at Damien High in La Verne, who announced his commitment to the Aztecs on Tuesday afternoon.
“I thank God for this opportunity. Grateful to all the coaches who helped me through this process. I’m excited to announce my commitment to San Diego State University!” he posted on X.
On3.com posted a picture of Garrison, some family members and SDSU coach Sean Lewis at Snapdragon Stadium. Garrison is wearing sunglasses and a sign in the picture reads, “Speed Limit None,” with the interlocking SD logo forming the “S” in Speed.
Why Travon Garrison committed to SDSU
“I’ve been on campus at San Diego State a lot,” Garrison said in an interview with on3.com. “Every time I go, I feel more comfortable, more at home. The city of San Diego is great, there’s a lot to do, the weather is nice and it feels like a place I can see myself living and growing in for the next few years.”
He added that he “really clicked well” with wideouts coach Matthew Middleton, and that he thinks he will “fit in really well with the offense. It’s very similar to what we run at Damien, so I feel comfortable with it and believe it will allow me to play fast and showcase my strengths.”
BREAKING: La Verne (Calif.) Damien WR Travon Garrison has committed to San Diego State and broke down why he chose the Aztecs
“Everything about SDSU, the coaches and the environment made it the right place for me.”
Intel: https://t.co/GW6CDqLW6Y pic.twitter.com/e2YajRQjGy
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) June 23, 2026
The 6-foot, 185-pound Garrison told the recruiting website that it was a tough decision after making official visits to SDSU and Washington State, which is part of the reconfigured Pac-12 that the Aztecs will officially join on July 1.
“I had to think about what was best for me, but in the end San Diego State felt like home,” Garrison told on3.com. “Everything about the program, the coaches, and the environment made it the right place for me.”
The three-star had an impressive list of offers that, besides SDSU and WSU, included bids from Kansas, UCLA, Washington, Utah, West Virginia and Colorado State.
As a junior, he had 46 passes for 978 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had four 100-yard games and one three-touchdown game.
How Garrison could fit in at SDSU
Garrison is at least the fifth wideout from the class of 2027 to commit to the Aztecs, which should make for some lively competition a year from now.
The Aztecs currently have an intriguing wide receiver room. Although the group was hit by injuries last year, when the Aztecs had an impressive turnaround season that ended with a 9-4 record, they do return all three starters and their top four pass catchers.
The most eye-catching development in spring was when Bert Emanuel Jr. switched from backup quarterback to wide receiver. That will allow him to showcase his big-play skills while sharing the field with returning starting quarterback Jayden Denegal. They are both seniors.
The wideout corps is senior-heavy.
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