Early this morning (April 30, 2019), the San Diego Zoo’s popular red and gold Giant Panda Friendship Wall was dismantled, marking the end of a month-long farewell celebration for the pandas.

Today (April 6, 2019), San Diego Zoo Global officials, Consul General Zhang Ping of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles and invited guests gathered to commemorate the successful end of San Diego Zoo Global’s current giant panda research program, and the beginning of a new era of panda conservation at the San Diego Zoo.

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.

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.