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Giant Pandas Leave Washington; China Pledges Future Cooperation With US WEB and USAGM
November 8, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script English((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Update US China Pandas TVR
HEADLINE: Giant Pandas Leave Washington; China Pledges Future Cooperation With US
TEASER: DC pandas returned to China as bilateral agreements expired
PUBLISHED AT: 11/8,2023 at 5:53 p.m.
BYLINE: Veronica Balderas Iglesias
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Elizabeth Lee
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Jepsen
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Agencies, Skype, see script
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 4:15
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVR Package
EDITOR NOTES: ((Radio tracks for reversioning Included. This pkg is an update of the one released on Nov 9))
((INTRO))
[[The giant pandas that lived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington for 23 years returned to China on Wednesday. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias followed the farewell ceremonies and the politics and conservation strategies that could impact the species’ future.]]
((NARRATOR))
Before they boarded their 19-hour flight back to China, the three giant pandas that had been living at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo were fed breakfast,
placed in special crates and bid farewell by the Zoo’s Director Brandie Smith.
((Brandie Smith, Smithsonian’s National Zoo Director))
"Please know that the future is bright for giant pandas. We remain committed to our program and we look forward to celebrating with all of you when pandas can return to D.C."
((NARRATOR))
Xu Xueyuan, minister at the Chinese Embassy in the United States, also made remarks.
((Xu Xueyuan, Chinese Embassy in the U.S.))
“Giant pandas belong to China. Giant pandas also belong to the world. China will continue to work closely with cooperation partners, including the United States, on the conservation and research of endangered species and biodiversity protection.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory cg: YouTube logo / Smithsonian Institution Archives))
The giant panda program in the U.S. began in 1972, with the arrival of Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling. The rare gift from China was a sign of not only goodwill but also soft power after then-U.S. President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat Nixon had paid a historic state visit to the East Asian country.
[[RADIO INTRO: Georgetown University Adjunct Professor Dennis Wilder specializes in US-China relations]]
((Dennis Wilder, Georgetown University Asian Studies)) ((Skype))
“It created very much an impression of China that was different from the harsh impressions of China that people had because of issues like human rights in Tibet or Xinjiang.”
((NARRATOR))
In 1984, when the giant panda was declared an endangered species, Beijing began lending bears instead of gifting them. Ten-year agreements with a price tag of up to 10 million dollars were put in place.
[[RADIO INTRO: Professor Wilder via Skype]]
((Dennis Wilder, Georgetown University Asian Studies)) ((Skype))
“They decided that in order to help panda conservation in China, that they would charge for the pandas. // Zoos were willing to pay these kinds of prices because, as I said, they are a major attraction.”
((NARRATION))
Under one of those research and breeding agreements, which would later be extended several times, panda pair Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) began living at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington in December 2000.
[[RADIO INTRO: …explains Deborah Seligsohn a former environment, science, technology, and health counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing]]
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
((Deborah Seligsohn, Former Counselor at US Embassy in Beijing)) ((Skype))
“We had a pair at the Atlanta Zoo. // The Memphis and San Diego pandas have already gone back to China.”
((NARRATION))
There’s been some speculation that economic, political and security tensions between the U.S. and China might be at play in the non-extension of the agreements.
[[RADIO INTRO: Analyst Dennis Wilder]]
((Dennis Wilder, Georgetown University Asian Studies)) ((Skype))
“I do think that American scientists are quite willing to engage with Chinese scientists on many of these issues and want to keep it apolitical, but unfortunately, the Chinese system is one where it's very difficult to keep science apolitical."
((NARRATOR))
Chinese authorities did not reply to VOA’s repeated requests for comment.
The success of breeding and other conservation efforts in U.S. zoos, however, should not be overlooked, some analysts say. The zoos have helped improve the species’ status from “endangered” to “vulnerable.” But others say it is time for a new strategy.
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
[[RADIO INTRO: Deborah Seligsohn via Skype]]
((Deborah Seligsohn, Former Counselor at U.S. Embassy in Beijing))
“I think the public understands more now than it did back then that zoos are not necessarily the way that you preserve animals in the wild, that that’s a different question and you have to look at how you are protecting their feeding and breeding grounds and their ability to move and all these kinds of things.”
But some fans of the DC Pandas say they will miss them.
((Jane Christensen, Panda Fan)) "When I heard that these pandas were leaving. // I was really, really upset."
((NARRATOR))
With their departure, Zoo Atlanta now is the only place in the U.S. housing giant pandas. Two of its four pandas will likely return in early 2024, the zoo says, while the loan on the remaining two expires late next near.
((Veronica Balderas Iglesias, VOA News, Washington.))
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