Zoo Atlanta is throwing a final farewell party to say goodbye to four giant pandas before they head off to China later this month.
Panda enthusiasts can see Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center for a sendoff party on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On top of bidding farewell to the beloved animals, visitors will also be able to write thank-you cards to the panda care team.
The zoo is also hosting guided morning tours from Saturday to Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. There, visitors can see the morning and care routines of the pandas.
Those interested in the tour will need to register in advance. Tickets are $40 on weekdays and $50 on weekends, with admission to the zoo included.
Their departure marks the end of the zoo’s 25-year agreement with China, which aimed to promote the conservation of giant pandas.
According to the zoo, it has invested $17 million in the conservation of giant pandas, representing its “most significant long-term investment in wildlife conservation.”
However, Zoo Atlanta has not yet discussed further panda conservation projects with its partners in China.
Lun Lun and Yang Yang first arrived at the zoo in 1999. The two bears later had twins, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, in 2016.
Lun Lun and Yang Yang’s first five offspring — Mei Lan, Xi Lan, A Bao, Mei Lun and Mei Huan — are currently housed in China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Lun Lun and Yang Yang will not have any more cubs due to their age.
If you’re not able to go in-person to see the pandas, you can tune into Zoo Atlanta’s PandaCam below.
