Giant pandas settling into their new home at Smithsonian National Zoo after journey from China

And we continue with our panda coverage here tonight. Just one day after they arrived at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., we are already learning more about how the duo is getting a feel for the zoo. Giuliana Valencia spoke to zookeepers to find out how those cubs are adjusting to their new surroundings. While the quarantine process is only 30 days, those next two months are really about making Baoli and Qingbao comfortable in their new home and to introduce them to people. The National Zoo will slowly introduce them to larger crowds to prepare them for the thousands expected to visit them each day once they make their debut. We're spending a lot of time just watching them and seeing sort of what their likes and dislikes are, sort of activity patterns and making sure that they're getting what they need. That looks like slowly introducing them to their new spaces and bamboo sources. Lori Thompson with the National Zoo says it's about building trust. We start by just calling their names, talking to them while we're feeding them so they can get used to like my voice and how I say Baoli, which I'm sure is different than their Chinese keeper. And then, you know, interacting with them, making it really positive. Sometimes they'll be comfortable and want to, you know, kind of play with us a little bit. Baoli likes scratches through the mesh. Right now, the pandas are also still adjusting from their 16-hour flight. Definitely kind of were sleeping when we got in this morning, which is a little bit unusual once they sell in. So I think they're definitely jet lagged. The National Zoo's deputy director says when the pandas left, they noticed a drop in visitors. But from the welcome they received, she's sure those numbers will go back up. I was in the motorcade that was coming back. And just to see how everybody in D.C. came out, people on the overpasses and where we're going through 66, taking photos and waving, going through Washington, D.C., and there was one woman who was literally jumping up and down. She was so excited. Just to see that welcome and feel that embrace from D.C. was really exciting to all of us. That was Giuliana Valencia with the story. The giant panda Cam, by the way, will go live after the pandas make their public debut January 24th. But you can keep up with them on the National Zoo's social media pages. They are doing a digital series releasing episodes every other week. I'll buy you some time between now and the end of January.