Smithsonian Zoo Celebrates 50 Years Of Its Giant Panda Program

Hard to believe it's been 50 years. A pandemonium then. Two Chinese pandas offered to the United States. And it continues to this day. Adorable. Kids, adults. So cute. All of us stop dead in our tracks when we see a panda, often sitting like a baby. Everyone knows that, Malia. They're from China. Well, everyone probably knows that. We know that now. But 50 years ago, we didn't know much about pandas or even China. It's been so long. Take us back to that Cold War relationship. How frosty was it? Well, there were 25 years of no communication. None. No communication between China and the United States. But the so-called bamboo curtain that separated our nations found an unexpected opening when President Richard Nixon and his wife visited China. On the table, the first lady, Pat Nixon, saw a tin of cigarettes. So she points to the cylinder on which there is an image of a panda and says to Zhou Enlai, gosh, aren't they cute? And he replies, I'll give you some. And just like that, panda diplomacy began. The zoo here has since hosted a total of eight pandas. So we had Lingling and Xingxing, Tiantian and Meishang, Taishan, Bao Bao, Beibei, and now Chaoqiji. Beyond the two million yearly visitors every day, more than 90,000 people click online to watch the 41 panda cams capturing their human-like antics. And when it snows and this happens, it goes viral. Over the last five decades, advances in caring for these bears, including laser treatment for 24-year-old Tiantian's arthritis. The honey water is a distraction to keep Tiantian in one place. What is the laser doing? So it's emitting a light that basically, when I describe it to people, I call it sort of like jump-starting a car. Fifty years ago, artificial insemination wasn't even considered, but it is now. Together, veterinarians in the U.S. and China have helped pandas once endangered to thrive. A newborn is about the size of a stick of butter. Pandas are one of those species that were, they were at risk of being lost. And so they were on the edge. They've been brought back a lot quicker in some ways than we expected to a population now that there's hope for. Chaoqiji conceived that way and born during the pandemic. His name voted on by the public translates to appropriately, little miracle. This is a great way to come here and be distracted for a little while and reminded again that there is still good in the world. And kind of important, especially right now when you look at the conflicts. Well, absolutely. Absolutely. Fifty years ago, there were fewer than a thousand pandas in the wild. Today, with all the advances, more than 1,800 plus another 600 in zoos, the three that we have here right now, look at that. If you're wondering, when China gave us the pandas, what did we give them? Well, we gave them musk oxen and yes, they look like they smell. I think we won all that deal, guys. Congratulations, carry on that great toss. Which panda is that behind you again? The one that's enjoying the breakfast. That is Michelle. Am I right? Yes. No, he could tell us anything. Doing these stories about pandas guy because I just want to pander to you. Hey, thanks for watching our YouTube channel. Find your favorite recipes, celebrity interviews, uplifting stories, shop our favorite deals and so much more with the Today app. Download it now.