Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after flying nonstop from Chengdu, China, aboard a FedEx Boeing 777 cargo aircraft known as the “FedEx Panda Express.”
The pandas traveled in custom-built crates with fresh bamboo and were cared for throughout the journey by Zoo Atlanta animal specialists. After landing, the crates were transferred to FedEx trucks and escorted by police on the 10-mile journey to Zoo Atlanta.
FedEx donated the full cost of the transportation. Ping Ping, a six-year-old male, and Fu Shuang, a five-year-old female, were both born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and will remain in Atlanta under a 10-year conservation loan.
Their arrival marks the return of giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta after a two-year absence. The pair is currently in quarantine, with their public debut expected later this year.