Atlanta Zoo Opens $6 Million Panda Habitat to Public
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are visible to guests for the first time at the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, a facility that positions Zoo Atlanta as one of only three U.S. institutions housing the species.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Zoo Atlanta opened the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove to the public on Thursday, marking the first time giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang have been visible to visitors in the city.
The facility represents a $6 million expansion of the zoo’s original giant panda habitat spaces. Funding for the project came from grants provided by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. The new complex includes expanded dayrooms with upgraded climbing structures and a pool in each enclosure. Outdoor areas also feature new climbing equipment, water features with aquatic flora, and the sculpture Reflecting the Wild, which was donated by Dr. Ron and Judy Goldstein.
Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, both six years old, arrived in Atlanta under a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation. The agreement was initiated between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The male and female pandas were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which serves as a signature conservation partner for the zoo.
Raymond B. King, President and CEO of Zoo Atlanta, stated that the opening is an extraordinary moment for the zoo and the city. King noted that the zoo is honored to be stewards of a species that represents a conservation success story. He said the new agreement allows vital conservation work to continue through a collaboration with partners in China.
Zoo Atlanta is now one of only three zoos in the United States that house giant pandas. The press release noted that it is the only zoological organization in the Southeast with the species in its collection. Members can enter the facility before general public hours to see the animals.
During opening weekend from November 6 to 8, visitors received commemorative giveaways and community activations. On Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, Zoo Atlanta Members could enter at 8:30 a.m. for Members-Only Panda Mornings. From Monday, November 9, through Sunday, November 22, members may enter at 8 a.m.
General admission tickets for the exhibit are available at zooatlanta.org.
