China preparing for return of U.S. born panda

Giant panda Bao Bao eats sugar cane in the yard in the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington. (Photo/China Daily)

Panda breeders in Southwest China's Sichuan province are preparing for the return of Bao Bao, a female giant panda born in the United States, who is scheduled to arrive Feb 22.

"The Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Chengdu city has prepared a 100-plus-square-meter panda habitat composed of a lounge and playground," said Qiu Yu, a publicity worker with the center.

"After arrival, the panda will spend a month-long quarantine at the base, where she will start to adapt to local bamboo and Chinese-style bread, as well as breeders speaking Sichuan dialect," Qiu said.

Bao Bao was born on Aug 23, 2013 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D. C.

The zoo said that a FedEx aircraft will carry the panda to Chengdu from Washington D. C. on Feb 21 local time.

The panda's mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian moved to the zoo in 2000 under a collaboration agreement between China and the United States. According to the agreement, panda cubs born in the United States to parents on loan from China must be returned to China.