“美香”一家三口归国，回家后的第一段视频来了！

当地时间8日，旅居美国的大熊猫“美香”“添添”和它们在华盛顿出生并长大的雄性幼崽“小奇迹”开启归国之旅。当天上午，华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园工作人员将三只装有大熊猫的特制“旅行包厢”、220磅（约合100公斤）竹子、饮用水及相关物资运上卡车。随后，载有“美香”“添添”和“小奇迹”的车队驶离动物园，前往华盛顿杜勒斯国际机场。

Meixiang, Tiantian, and Xiao Qi Ji departed Washington, D.C. on Wednesday local time. They were placed into three tailor-made crates. Supplies including 100 kg of bamboo, drinking water and apples were also loaded onto the plane for the pandas to consume.

11月8日，在美国华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园，装有大熊猫的箱子准备被运往机场。新华社记者 刘杰 摄

9月下旬至10月初，史密森学会国家动物园举办了“大熊猫派对：盛大告别”活动。华盛顿以及来自美国各地的大批民众在大熊猫馆外排起长队，抓住最后机会与“美香”一家说再见。

9月30日，在美国华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园，小朋友们制作大熊猫主题面具。新华社记者刘杰摄

当地时间13时许，“美香”一家乘坐的专机起飞。据提供此次运送服务的美国联邦快递公司人员介绍，飞机经停美国安克雷奇市，随后前往中国成都市，旅程约19个小时。一名兽医和两名饲养员全程陪同。

Three giant panda keepers from the Smithsonian's National Zoo, where the giant pandas had stayed, accompanied them on the flight.

11月8日，在美国弗吉尼亚州的华盛顿杜勒斯国际机场，装有大熊猫的特制“旅行包厢”准备运上专机。新华社记者刘杰摄

史密森学会国家动物园和生物保护研究所主管布兰迪·史密斯表示，这是一个既艰难又欣喜的历史性时刻。“美香”和“添添”来到美国后一直是动物园的“明星”，更成为全美的“偶像”。史密斯随后在机场举行的仪式上说，美中大熊猫保护研究合作长达50余年，这是世界上针对单一物种保护、持续时间最长的合作。“我们和中国的合作伙伴关系是非凡的。”

"It's a moment with some heartbreak in it, but it is also a moment of joy, because we are celebrating the success of the world's longest running conservation program for a single species," Brandie Smith, director of Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) said.

"They are an iconic animal for the zoo, for the District of Columbia, and for our country as well," Smith said of the panda couple and their offspring. Brandie Smith hailed the China-U.S. collaboration on giant panda conservation that dated back over 50 years.

8月21日，大熊猫幼崽“小奇迹”在美国首都华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园享用生日蛋糕。新华社记者 刘杰 摄

2000年底，“美香”和“添添”抵达位于华盛顿西北部的史密森学会国家动物园。旅美23年间，“美香”先后孕育了四只健康的幼崽。其中，“泰山”“宝宝”和“贝贝”已经回国。“小奇迹”出生于2020年8月21日，在新冠疫情中为人们带来欢乐与希望。

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived in the United States 23 years ago and bred four cubs there, of which Tai Shan, Bao Bao, and Bei Bei had already returned to China.

与“美香”一家同行的工作人员包括饲养员劳里·汤普森，她曾多次前往中国学习大熊猫繁育、幼崽保育等领域的知识。汤普森对记者说，在史密森学会国家动物园，她与大熊猫们几乎朝夕相处，所以看着它们离开实在有些舍不得。

多年的照料与陪伴让汤普森对这三只大熊猫的性格了如指掌。她绘声绘色地说，作为母亲，“美香”敏感而谨慎；父亲“添添”很“淡定”；儿子“小奇迹”的性格介乎父母之间，但“随妈妈更多”，它聪明活泼，最爱爬树。“祝它们好运，也希望它们不要忘了我们。”

7月22日，在美国华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园，大熊猫“美香”享用生日蛋糕。新华社发（史密森学会国家动物园供图）

A veteran panda keeper, Thompson cared for Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and all of their four surviving cubs throughout the couple's stay in the zoo. Thompson has traveled to China six times to learn about panda breeding and cub management from her Chinese counterparts. This time, Thompson again joined another keeper and a veterinarian in accompanying the pandas back home.

Thompson knows the unique characteristics of each bear. Tian Tian is "the most laid-back of the three. He's very OK with new experiences. He doesn't get worked up if he hears a noise." By comparison, Mei Xiang "is a little bit more nervous about things that she doesn't know," as "she's a mom and she has to be aware of her surroundings." Xiao Qi Ji is "more of a mix" of his parents. "He can be laid back, but he's more like his mother. He's a little more nervous about things. He loves to sleep in trees. And he's also very smart."

8月27日，大熊猫“添添”在美国首都华盛顿史密森学会国家动物园享用生日蛋糕。新华社发（温斯特德·巴恩斯 摄）

汤普森只是两国大熊猫保护研究合作五十余年来的缩影。

中国驻美国大使馆公使徐学渊表示，自2000年“美香”和“添添”来到史密森学会国家动物园，中美双方在大熊猫保护和研究方面开展了密切且富有成果的合作，有力促进了两国人民的相互了解和友谊。未来，中国将继续与包括美国在内的伙伴们在濒危物种保护和研究以及生物多样性保护方面开展密切合作，为可持续发展和各国人民友谊作出更大贡献。

Xu Xueyuan, minister of the Chinese embassy in the United States who also attended the event, said that since the arrival of Meixiang and Tian Tian in Washington 23 years ago, which also marked the beginning of cooperation between China and the NZCBI, Chinese and U.S. teams "have worked closely and fruitfully on giant panda conservation and research." Such collaboration has resulted in remarkable accomplishments on giant panda breeding, disease prevention and treatment, as well as public education, Xu said, adding that in so doing, professionals from the two countries have "contributed strongly to the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples".

1972年4月，史密森学会国家动物园迎来中国大熊猫“玲玲”和“兴兴”。50余年来，中美在大熊猫保护繁育、疫病防控、疾病诊治和公众教育等方面取得了积极成果。史密斯也表示，希望这样的合作，可以再进行五十年。

In 1972, the Smithsonian's National Zoo welcomed two giant pandas from China -- female cub Ling-Ling and male cub Hsing-Hsing. Over the last five decades, China and the United States have made significant achievements in the study of giant pandas, including their conservation, breeding methods and jointly raising awareness about this remarkable species. Smith also expressed the hope that such cooperation would continue for another 50 years.

五十余年，风云变幻，而黑白“滚滚”为我们带来的希望，未曾改变。