![]() I’m embarrassed to admit how many photos and panda cam screenshots I’ve taken of this bear. From watching him learn to climb trees and tumble down the hill, to flashing his signature toothy grin while sleeping, almost everything he did was adorable. Photo: National Zooīei Bei was an endless source of entertainment. Photo: National Zoo Bei Bei’s public debut on January 16, 2016. The celebrity finally made his public debut on January 16, 2016, and as expected the Giant Panda House was swarming with visitors dying to get their first look at the fuzzy baby.īei Bei’s naming ceremony on September 25, 2015. (I am forever grateful to the zoo for providing this 24/7 cam for people all over the globe to observe the fascinating mother-baby interaction.) Bei Bei was named a month after his birth by then–First Lady Michelle Obama and China’s counterpart, Peng Liyuan. I viewed the birth* live on the zoo’s panda cam and followed him and his mother almost daily as I awaited the day he would be on exhibit. The event made international news he was an instant celebrity. It’s the adorable Bao Bao! (Clearly I didn’t have a good camera back then.)Ī year later, Bei Bei entered the world on August 22. She never showed her face during my brief visit, but I was determined to see her again soon. As a newcomer I knew few people in the area, so a trip to the zoo to visit the silly Miss Bao Bao always cheered me up. She entertained her fans with her acroBAOtics and sass, tumbling around her yard, tormenting the flora. ![]() I saw only her fuzzy legs but promised her I would return soon.) Upon my permanent arrival to the city, Bao Bao was a spunky, independent, adorable ball of fluff. (Even when I was in town for my job interview, I rushed to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the celebrity before I had to catch my flight. I had followed the birth and first year of Bao Bao remotely, and she captured my heart immediately upon arriving in DC. In 2014, when I accepted a job in the DC area, one of the perks of relocating from Boston was living close to the giant pandas at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. And most importantly, he’s an incredible ambassador for his species. He has lived up to his name, which means “precious treasure” in Mandarin-he’s a local, national, and worldwide treasure for sure. I still write this through tears, which might sound silly to many, but Bei Bei is a very special bear. I have attempted to write this story several times, and each time the pain of his departure was too much to allow me to focus. Bei Bei, along with one of his beloved keepers and a veterinarian, departed two days later for China aboard a personalized FedEx flight to Chengdu. On Sunday, November 17, I said goodbye to a giant panda who has been a major part of my life for the past four years.
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