The pandas at the National Zoo are going back to China earlier than expected: What to know

The pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. will be returning to China sooner than expected, according to a tweet from the zoo that said they'll be headed back in mid-November.

The pandas were originally expected to leave by early December, according to a news release from the zoo. But a tweet from the zoo moved that deadline up, in line with a three-year contract the zoo has with the China Wildlife Conservation.

Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji's departure comes after zoos in Memphis and San Diego have already returned their pandas to China. The Atlanta Zoo pandas Ya Lun and Xi Lun will go back at the beginning of 2024, according to a news release by the zoo.

When that happens, it will be the first time since 1972 the U.S. will not have pandas.

Why are the pandas leaving?

In 1972, the U.S. was given its first panda by China, after President Richard Nixon normalized relations with China. The gift of pandas from China was a practice that some have dubbed "panda diplomacy."

Negotiations between the zoo and China to extend the contract have yet to be successful, amid talk from "China-watchers" that Beijing is slowly pulling its pandas from Western nations due to declining relations with the U.S. and other countries, according to AP. Britain will also lose its pandas from the Edinburgh Zoo in December due to new contracts not being renewed, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said.

Where can you say your goodbyes to pandas in the U.S.?

The Washington D.C National Zoo offers free entry passes, according to their website. The passes allow entry from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The zoo also has a 24-hour live stream called the Giant Panda Cam, where you can switch between two cameras and view all three pandas living in their enclosure.

The Atlanta Zoo pandas Ya Lun and Xi Lun will be here until the beginning of next year. People can buy tickets on the zoo's website and view their Panda Cam to say their final goodbyes.

Includes reporting from The Associated Press