Bao Bao the Panda landed in China. (Photo : Twitter)
The 3-year-old Bao Bao panda arrived in Chengdu, China. She was transported via a Federal Express flight from Washington, D.C.
She was the only panda on board along with a zookeeper and a veterinarian.
Her keeper, Marty Dearie, said, "She ate and slept the whole flight and we have no concerns, none at all." Bao Bao was feeding on apples, potatoes, and bamboo.
Bao Bao's return to China is part of the conservation partnership between China and the United States. She will be quarantined for a month at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Chengdu.
The base prepared a 100 square foot enclosure for Bao Bao which includes a lounge and a playground. She will be monitored for any blood in her feces and dietary patterns.
Bao Bao, which means "treasure" in Chinese, will be then sent to interact with other pandas to breed.
The China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas released a press statement which stated that Bao Bao emerged from her crate looking curious and settled for a fresh snack of bamboo.
Research center expert Li Desheng said, "Once Bao Bao the panda completes this month of quarantine, she'll go on display to the public and I welcome everyone to come see her then."
The cub will also have to learn to adapt to local food such as soybeans and steamed buns, corn, rice, and bread. She has an English-speaking keeper since she does not understand Chinese.
Bao Bao is the 11th panda to be born overseas and returned to China. Pandas are now considered a vulnerable animal species.
In 2004, there were already 1,824 pandas in the world. They are mostly found in the mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi.
There are 200 pandas in captivity.
