Bye Bye, Bei Bei: Giant Panda Heads to China

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2019

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

The Smithsonian's National Zoo is bidding farewell to Bei Bei. The 4-year-old giant panda will be sent to China on Tuesday, Nov. 19. While born in captivity at the zoo, Bei Bei is the property of China. Reporter Emily Kwong tells us about Bei Bei's elaborate departure plans, why he's leaving now, and what it would take to ensure the survival of giant pandas in the wild.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.
0:05.0	Maddie's to fight you here with Shortwave reporter Emily Kwong.
0:08.1	Hey, Maddie.
0:09.1	Hey you.
0:10.1	So I saw you snickle Snackle in on the office last week saying you were going to the zoo.
0:14.1	I was going to the zoo to the Smithsonian's National Zoo here in Washington, D.C. because
0:19.8	what's unfolding there is an international conservation story in the form of a furry,
0:25.3	like Ed Bamboo lover, a giant panda named Bay Bay.
0:27.9	Hey, Bay Bay.
0:28.9	I'm sorry.
0:29.9	I'm so sorry.
0:30.9	That's genuinely the panda's name, Maddie.
0:31.9	I'm so sorry.
0:32.9	Okay, Bay Bay the panda.
0:34.4	Yes.
0:35.4	Spelled BEI, BEI, meaning precious treasure in Mandarin Chinese.
0:40.1	He was born on August 22nd, 2015.
0:46.3	Pink, hairless, and blind.
0:49.3	As we all come into the world.
0:54.1	Pretty helpless.
0:55.5	As a newborn, he's about the size of a stick of butter.
0:58.1	Delicious.
	...

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