The Smithsonian National Zoo’s three pandas are set to be returned to China in December, leaving the United States with only four remaining pandas in the country.⁠ ⁠ Adult pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their male cub Xiao Qi Ji are returning to China on Dec. 7, the same month the agreement between the U.S. and China for the bears will expire.⁠ ⁠ Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived at the Smithsonian National Zoo on Dec. 6, 2000, as part of a research and breeding agreement between the zoo and China Wildlife and Conservation Association and were only supposed to stay for a decade until the program was extended multiple times over the years.⁠ ⁠ If the three bears return, the U.S. would be left with only four remaining bears, which are taking residence in Zoo Atlanta in Georgia. However, those four bears — Lun Lun and Yang Yang, and their cubs Ya Lun and Xi Lun — are also likely to be returned to China, with the two offspring set for travel first in early 2024, while the two adult pandas...