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WASHINGTON (AP) — The farewells have started at the National Zoo in Washington, as 3-year-old giant panda Bao Bao (bow bow) prepares to leave for China later this month.
The zoo's cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association requires all cubs born at the zoo move to China by the time they're 4 years old. Bao Bao turns 4 in August.
Giant panda keeper Nicole McCorkle says it's a very emotional time. She says the zoo went many years without having a cub and they got very attached to Bao Bao. But she says the panda will play a big role in mating in China.
McCorkle says the status of giant pandas has moved from endangered to vulnerable, a huge step, but work still needs to be done.
Bao Bao is the first surviving cub born at the National Zoo since 2005. Older brother Tai Shan (ty shawn) left for China in 2010. Their mother, Mei Xiang (may shahng), has since had a third surviving cub, Bei Bei (bay bay), who was born in 2015.
Celebrations are being held at the zoo leading up to Bao Bao's Feb. 21 departure.
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075-a-12-(Nicole MacCorkle, giant panda keeper at the National Zoo, in AP interview)-"of the pandas"-Giant panda keeper Nicole MacCorkle says Bao Bao will be missed. (11 Feb 2017)
<<CUT *075 (02/11/17)££ 00:12 "of the pandas"
076-a-10-(Nicole MacCorkle, giant panda keeper at the National Zoo, in AP interview)-"their bamboo forest"-Giant panda keeper Nicole MacCorkle says Bao Bao will return to China to help save the species. (11 Feb 2017)
<<CUT *076 (02/11/17)££ 00:10 "their bamboo forest"
073-a-12-(Nicole MacCorkle, giant panda keeper at the National Zoo, in AP interview)-"and developing here"-Giant panda keeper Nicole MacCorkle says saying goodbye to Mei Xiang's 3-year old Bao Bao has not been easy. (11 Feb 2017)
<<CUT *073 (02/11/17)££ 00:12 "and developing here"
074-a-13-(Nicole MacCorkle, giant panda keeper at the National Zoo, in AP interview)-"confident in there"-Giant panda keeper Nicole MacCorkle says Bao Bao has matured and is ready to be sent to China. (11 Feb 2017)
<<CUT *074 (02/11/17)££ 00:13 "confident in there"
APPHOTO WX106: FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2014 file photo, panda cub Bao Bao hangs from a tree in her habitat at the National Zoo in Washington in Washington. The National Zoo says 3-year-old panda Bao Bao is heading to China this month. The zoo tweeted Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, that Bao Bao will fly to China on Feb. 21. The zoo recently announced a celebration of Bao Bao starting Feb. 16 in anticipation of her departure. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) (20 Oct 2016)
<<APPHOTO WX106 (10/20/16)££
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