Bao Bao, a 44-pound female panda bear cub, is seen in the panda exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington (Reuters)
Twin giant pandas born three years ago at Atlanta's zoo are en route to China.
The zoo says Mei Lun and Mei Huan left Atlanta early Thursday bound for a panda research center in Chengdu.
Two Zoo Atlanta staff members are accompanying the furry pair. They've also brought 375 pounds of bamboo, eight gallons of water and 25 pounds of treats, including sugarcane, bananas and biscuits.
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Mei Lun and Mei Huan are the first surviving pair of giant panda twins born in the U.S. Their mother, Lun Lun, gave birth to another set in September.
Like the other three U.S. zoos with giant pandas, the bears are on loan from China. As part of the loan agreement, all adult offspring are sent to China when they're of age.
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