Two pandas shipped from China to the DC Zoo play during the first snowfall
Two pandas shipped from China to a zoo in Washington DC have been captured on adorable video enjoying life in their new home.
Bao Li and Qing Bao, the pair of three-year-old giant pandas, were allowed to participate in playtime at the Washington National Zoo in preparation for their official debut in January after arriving in the country from Beijing earlier this month during the latest edition of China’s so-called ‘panda -diplomacy’.
And the sweet bears even experienced snow for the first time.
The heartwarming video footage showed one of the pandas jumping from a platform in the enclosure before excitedly trotting towards an enrichment toy – a toy that encourages them to play while using their natural behavior to help them feel more comfortable.
Video showed him hysterically prancing around the toy and jumping up and down on two legs before trotting away.
Closer footage captured the pandas doing somersaults under the trees with their toys in hand as they rolled through the fallen leaves – seemingly making them feel right at home.
The adorable animals ate carrots, bamboo and apples and played joyfully in falling snowflakes during the state’s first real taste of winter on Friday morning after the ‘bomb cyclone’ hit areas of the east coast, leaving behind storms and light snowfall.
Their arrival marked a rare diplomatic success between the US and China after relations between the two world powers deteriorated in recent years due to tensions over trade and geopolitics.
Adorable video captured Bao Li and Qing Bao, the pair of three-year-old giant pandas sent from Beijing in the latest event of China’s so-called “panda diplomacy,” enjoying life in their new home at Washington’s National Zoo
The pandas rolled around playing in the fallen leaves and nibbled on some carrots and apples
The pair of pandas were even able to experience snowstorms for the first time as they adjusted to their new home