The San Diego Zoo prepares to say farewell to two much-loved giant pandas—however, its conservation efforts on behalf of this iconic species will continue. In honoring the terms of the Zoo’s conservation loan agreement with the People’s Republic of China, 27-year-old female giant panda Bai Yun (pronounced bye yoon) and her son, 6-year-old Xiao Liwu (pronounced sshyaoww lee woo), will leave the San Diego Zoo in April and will be repatriated to their ancestral homeland.

Best-selling author Chelsea Clinton will present her new children’s book, Don’t Let Them Disappear: Twelve Endangered Species Across the Globe, at a special event and book signing May 23, 2019 at the San Diego Zoo.

San Diegans Ernest and Evelyn Rady have made a record-setting commitment in support of the San Diego Zoo’s Animal Ambassador program. The Radys have pledged $20 million, of which $15 million will be a challenge grant that must be earned with matching donations from other Zoo supporters.

If you didn’t already have enough reasons to visit the San Diego Zoo this week, three cute new arrivals may motivate you to drop everything and stop by. Over the past few months, Zoo animal care staff have welcomed three female mammal newborns—including a hamadryas baboon; a takin calf, listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species; and an Endangered siamang.

San Diego Zoo Global’s horticultural works are in the spotlight this month, with the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) in Washington, D.C. including landscape designs from both the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park in a new exhibit.

The world’s endangered okapi population has increased by one this month, after okapi mom Subira gave birth to her first calf at the San Diego Zoo.