Three of the five Pairi Daiza pandas will depart for China Mid-December.

Until November 11, 2024, the animals will continue their usual daily routines, after which Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, in line with the necessary quarantine measures for their departure, will no longer be fully visible to the public. Their parents, Hao Hao and Xing Hui, will remain at Pairi Daiza.

23 October 2024

With both emotion and pride, Pairi Daiza today announces that Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei, the three giant pandas born in the park, will leave Belgium on December 10, 2024, to travel to China. Their departure marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Pairi Daiza and the Chinese authorities as part of the giant panda conservation program.

Conservation efforts led by China, its partners like Pairi Daiza, and university programs for over 30 years are bearing fruit. Today, nearly 1,900 giant pandas live in the wild, compared to just 1,200 in the 1980s.

In 2013, Pairi Daiza partnered with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) to welcome giant pandas. Hao Hao and Xing Hui, the pandas loaned to Pairi Daiza for 15 years as part of agreements with China, will remain at the park. Since 2014, they have touched the hearts of Belgium, blessing the country with the birth of three beautiful cubs: Tian Bao, born on June 2, 2016, followed by the twins Bao Di and Bao Mei, born on August 8, 2019.

These three cubs born at Pairi Daiza will depart from Brussels in December, heading to the Giant Panda Base in Bifengxia. This research and breeding center for giant pandas is located in the city of Bifengxia, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.

Tian Bao, at 2 months, with his mother Hao Hao

The preparations for the departure of these precious animals are already in full swing. Pairi Daiza is doing everything possible to ensure that Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei can depart under the best conditions. The animals are being carefully prepared and accompanied before and during their transport to guarantee their well-being. Every detail is being carefully considered to ensure a calm and respectful departure, tailored to their specific needs.

As for their parents, Hao Hao and Xing Hui, they will remain at Pairi Daiza, continuing their role as ambassadors for the protection of this iconic species in Belgium. Their presence symbolizes the continuation of the exceptional partnership between Belgium and China in the preservation of giant pandas and the species that share their habitat.

Pairi Daiza and the Pairi Daiza Foundation thank all sponsors, godparents, and visitors for their unwavering support of this conservation project and for the love they have shown to Tian Bao, Bao Di, and Bao Mei over the years.

Pairi Daiza is open every day, until November 2nd from 10:00 to 22:00. Visitors can say goodbye to the three young pandas who are leaving until November 11th.