The FedEx Panda Express

by Jason Baker

This spring the Toronto Zoo welcomes two giant pandas as part of a new giant panda conservation initiative that they entered into with China in February 2011. This will be the first time since 1985 that pandas have visited the Toronto Zoo and will strengthen the long-term conservation partnership agreement between China and Canada.

Er Shun (female) and De Mau (male) will arrive in late March/early April at the FedEx Express tarmac at Toronto Pearson International Airport before being carefully transported to their quarantine area at the Zoo. These two pandas were selected to come to Canada as they are an excellent genetic match for breeding. They will spend five years in the Toronto Zoo before residing in the Calgary Zoo for an additional five years.