Mei Xiang and Tai Shan (photo: J. Cohen)

This week’s carte postale comes from Washington, DC. I bought this postcard during my visit to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in 2008.

Giant pandas are a vulnerable species. Since 1972, scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have studied their behavior, health, and reproduction.

In 2000, a pair of giant pandas from China, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) were brought to the National Zoo in Washington as ambassadors of conservation.

In July 2005, their cub, Tai Shan (tie-SHON) was the first surviving giant panda cub to be born at the National Zoo. Since 2010, he has been living at the Wolong Nature Reserve in China.

Tai Shan has a new sibling: Mei Xiang and Tian Tian welcomed their fourth surviving cub in August 2020!

For more information:

Smithsonian’s National Zoo 

Until the next Wednesday Postcard, stay healthy and safe!