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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs
A authorities shutdown might suck the life out of the get together for a few of Washington, D.C.’s hottest residents: the pandas.
The Nationwide Zoo is holding a sequence of panda-themed occasions to commemorate the departure of its solely three pandas: aged pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their 3-year-old son Xiao Qi Ji are heading again to China. The nine-day farewell bash is simply getting began. However Washington succumbing to a shutdown would lower the celebrations brief a day early.
The three pandas are on mortgage from China underneath an settlement with the China Wildlife Conservation Affiliation and can return to the nation by Dec. 7.
The zoo is holding the “Panda Palooza,” its lengthy anticipated goodbye get together for the pandas, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. In the meantime, authorities funding will expire on Oct. 1, the identical day the federal government would shut down if Congress cannot go a brand new funding plan.
Like all Smithsonian establishments, as a result of the Nationwide Zoo receives federal funding, it too should near the general public within the occasion of a shutdown.
For a lot of panda followers, the sendoff could also be their final likelihood to see the trio earlier than their farewell journey. After that, the zoo will likely be panda-less for the primary time in additional than 50 years.
Wind and rain has already has dampened the get together, with the zoo canceling some Palooza occasions, The Washington Put up reported. However the climate hasn’t stored avid panda followers away. Native and out-of-state residents flocked to the zoo to catch a glimpse, with many sharing images on social media of the pandas frolicking across the bamboo and munching on ice desserts.
T’sou Chi Chi enjoys a superb meal in his Twilight Days on the Nat’l. Zoo.0n Friday, Panda Palooza celebrated 51 years of panda diplomacy. I beloved it! pic.twitter.com/CToNbnnJym
— John Gizzi (@johngizzi) September 24, 2023
As in shutdowns previous, the halt of “nonessential” authorities capabilities would additionally imply the Smithsonian’s dwell large panda cam goes darkish.
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