Washington's National Zoo is honoring its three giant pandas with nine days of events ahead of their return to China but stormy weather and a looming U.S. government shutdown have put something of a damper on the festivities.
The "Panda Palooza" to honor their legacy as animal ambassadors and beloved Washington icons drew a reduced crowd on Saturday because of torrential rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia, according to local news reports.
The coming week will feature panda-themed film screenings, concerts, lectures, yoga, arts and craft activities, and "tasty celebratory treats" provided by the Chinese Embassy in Washington, according to the zoo's website.for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 due to an ongoing dispute between far-right Republicans and other lawmakers.
Mei Xiang, 25, and Tian Tian, 26, came to the zoo in 2000 under a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The pandas were initially meant to stay 10 years, but the agreement has been renewed three times since 2010.
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