Panda cub Bei Bei leaves for new life in China

'Part of our family'

Bei Bei is only the third surviving cub born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington in more than four decades since the first pair, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, arrived in April 1972, weeks after then-US president Richard Nixon's historic China visit.

Over the next 20 years, they produced five cubs, but none survived more than a few days.

In 2000, the situation changed when Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived in the United States. Mei Xiang gave birth to Tai Shan in 2005, and to Bao Bao eight years later. The cubs left for China in 2010 and 2017, respectively.

On Aug 22, 2015, Mei Xiang gave birth to a third cub. About a month later, the cub was named Bei Bei by then-US first lady Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping. The name means "precious treasure".

Under a cooperative breeding agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all cubs born to pandas on loan from China are sent back to the nation when they are 4 years old. Bei Bei will enter the giant panda breeding program when he reaches sexual maturity between ages 5 and 7.

"Bei Bei is part of our family," said Monfort. "We're sad he's leaving, but excited for the contributions he will make to the global giant panda population."

Giant pandas, native to China, have long symbolized vulnerable species, with as few as 1,800 living in the wild.

Their conservation status improved in September 2016, when the species was upgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable", thanks to the efforts of the Chinese government, scientists, international conservation organizations and zoos such as the Smithsonian.

Kim, the video blogger from Los Angeles, said she was considering visiting China when Bei Bei unites with his brother and sister.

"I was waiting for Bei Bei to go to China, and that gives me a reason to go visit Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei all at one time," Kim said.