The Washington Post-US to receive first pandas in 20 years after farewell party in China
June 27, 2024 4 min 772 words
这篇报道主要内容是，一对大熊猫“云川”和“新宝”将从中国前往美国，并在美国加州圣地亚哥动物园安家。在出发前，中国四川为它们举行了盛大的欢送仪式。报道提到，大熊猫是中美两国外交关系的象征，也是中国自然环境的象征。中国野生动物保护官员表示，这对大熊猫的出境是中美两国新一轮大熊猫保护合作的一部分。 评论：这篇报道虽然重点介绍了大熊猫赴美一事，但其中也充满了对中国的偏见和负面印象。例如，报道中提到“大熊猫外交可追溯至685年”，试图给读者一种中国很早就开始利用大熊猫进行外交活动的印象，而实际情况是中国政府从20世纪70年代开始才将大熊猫作为国礼赠送给其他国家。报道还提到“中国拥有所有在美动物园大熊猫的拥有权和租借权”，这句话本身是事实，但报道试图营造一种中国利用大熊猫进行外交操纵的印象。此外，报道中还存在一些细节错误，例如，“新宝”和“云川”的性别描述错误，以及对大熊猫在美受欢迎程度的夸大。总的来说，这篇报道在客观报道事实的同时，也试图在读者心中塑造一种负面和偏见印象。
2024-06-27T08:01:57.078Z
Giant panda lovers rejoice, two of the black and white fluffballs are headed to the United States from China — an operation involving a motorcade, a chartered flight, a dedicated entourage and a bespoke menu, according to Chinese wildlife officials.
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are the first pair of pandas to enter the United States in more than two decades, and will set up home at the San Diego Zoo in California, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a statement.
Before their big move, the pair attended an elaborate farewell ceremony in their honor in China’s Sichuan Province on Wednesday, which U.S. and Chinese dignitaries attended along with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance President and CEO Paul Baribaul and Todd Gloria, San Diego mayor.
Three-year-old female panda Xin Bao is “gentle and well-behaved,” while male panda Yun Chuan, four, is “smart and lively,” the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda said in a statement, adding that the duo would enjoy “carefully prepared fresh bamboo, bamboo shoots, fruit, vegetables, and specially made steamed buns” during their flight.
The duo will also be accompanied by several experienced nutritionists and vets, and once at the zoo, the Chinese experts will stay for around three months to help the pair through the quarantine and adjustment period, the center added.
The pandas’ relocation is part of ongoing efforts between the two nations to protect the mammals, officials from both nations said. Pandas are no longer considered endangered but their status is listed as “vulnerable,” according to The World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The animals are also star attractions in zoos in the United States — and have long been associated with China’s diplomatic efforts.
China is home to the only natural habitat for pandas, and panda diplomacy can be traced as far back as 685 A.D. Since then the mammals have been sent to nations around the world, serving as strategic goodwill ambassadors, attempting to soften China’s image abroad. In recent decades, China has lent pandas on renewable 10-year contracts for a fee, with all cubs born abroad to be sent back before they turn four.
The bears often become celebrities in the process — while the departure of three pandas from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington last year triggered tearful farewells and fears the United States would eventually be left with no pandas.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance leaders joined esteemed dignitaries and conservation leaders in China for a farewell ceremony honoring Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the two giant pandas coming to San Diego Zoo. pic.twitter.com/u16ujsIjU0
— San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) June 26, 2024
Yun Chuan is the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007, the San Diego Wildlife Alliance said.
The pandas will be given “several weeks” to adjust to their new surroundings before going on display to members of the public, alliance said, adding that the zoo would share information about how to see the duo once health care teams deemed the pandas ready to meet the public.
WWF estimates that just 1,860 giant pandas remain in the wild, facing threats that include climate change, loss of food supplies and habitat fragmentation.
“Although the conservation status of the giant panda is improving, there is still much work needed to ensure they remain on the path to recovery with healthy and flourishing populations,” the statement said.
Chinese wildlife officials said the loan of the two pandas would open a new round of panda conservation cooperation between the United States and China. The China Wildlife Conservation Association added that it hoped conservation efforts between the two countries would also lead to improvements in managing panda diseases, and help promote “friendship between Chinese and overseas peoples.”
It is not just San Diego that is eagerly awaiting a panda delivery.
Later this year, two new giant pandas will arrive in Washington, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo announced last month. The move came as a surprise, given the tense relationship between the United States and China, which owns and leases all giant pandas in U.S. zoos, The Washington Post reported at the time.
In fact, China’s pandas are so popular in Washington that one Chinese ambassador previously joked: “Many people don’t realize it, but there are actually two Chinese ambassadors in Washington: me and the panda cub at the National Zoo.”