ATLANTA -- Two of Zoo Atlanta's most popular residents are about to begin a new adventure.
Giant pandas Xi Lan and Po will leave Atlanta on Nov. 24 and move to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China.
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"As stewards of giant pandas here in the U.S., we're fortunate to be able to observe so many important milestones in the lives of these treasured bears," Zoo Atlanta president and CEO Raymond B. King said in a statement. "Bidding them farewell is a bittersweet milestone, but it's one that's also very rewarding and exciting."
Zoo Atlanta will hold a special farewell celebration for Xi Lan and Po this Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the zoo's Panda Veranda. The first 200 visitors will receive special treats, while all guests will have the opportunity to say goodbye to the dynamic duo.
Xi Lan was born Aug. 30, 2008, and Po's much-celebrated birth was Nov. 3, 2010. Both live independently, as giant pandas are solitary animals.
Meanwhile, the zoo's newest giant pandas, twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan, will soon make their public debut with mother Lun Lun in the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center.
