The National Zoo’s long dark panda drought has come to an end.

The two giant pandas sent from China to the United States earlier this year are making their public debut at the San Diego Zoo.

China’s giant panda loan program has long been a tool of diplomacy, but its significance for species conservation has proved important, too.

One of the great interspecies love stories of our time has come to an end.

Panda lovers in America have received a much-needed injection of hope as Chinese President Xi Jinping says his government is “ready to continue” lending the black and white icons to American zoos.

Foxes are known to raid henhouses.

The “cake” was made from frozen fruit juice, sweet potatoes, carrots and sugar cane and it lasted about 15 minutes once giant panda mama Mei Xiang and her cub Xiao Qi Ji got hold of it.

Why not start your week with a video of giant pandas having a snow day at the National Zoo in Washington DC? A joyful video posted by the zoo shows giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian slipping and sliding through a snow day and it’s just beautiful:❄️🐼 Slides, somersaults and pure panda joy. Happy snow day from giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian! #SnowDay #PandaStory pic.twitter.com/my02GwnPFL — National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 31, 2021That’s all we got for this article, really. Just watch that video about one million times.

WASHINGTON – In response to rising COVID-19 infection numbers, the Smithsonian Institution is indefinitely shutting down operations at all its facilities, effective Monday and affecting seven museums, plus the National Zoo. The Smithsonian said in a statement that its “top priority is to protect the health and safety of its visitors and staff.” No reopening date is scheduled. The decision comes at a time of rising speculation over whether the District of Columbia will tighten virus restrictions in the face of a nationwide spike. Since then, Smithsonian officials have gradually opened up other facilities, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of African-American History and Culture. "Due to the changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a reopening date at this time," the Smithsonian said in its statement.