Friends of the National Zoo say goodbye to Bao Bao

Pandas at the National Zoo are moved to China by the time they are four years old. Bao Bao will be turning four in August. (海角社区app / Kathy Stewart) — Bao Bao will move to China on Feb. 21. Friends of the National Zoo surprised Bao Bao with a going away party. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Friends of the National Zoo surprised Bao Bao with a going away party. Bao Bao will move to China on Feb. 21. 海角社区app / Kathy Stewart — Pandas at the National Zoo are moved to China by the time they are 4 years old. Bao Bao will turn 4 in August, but because Giant Pandas are cold weather animals, a winter flight to China is better suited. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Fans of Bao Bao had the opportunity to take pictures of the beloved Panda before his big move to China. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart) — Friends of the National Zoo members had the opportunity to take pictures of the 3-year-old panda at a private going away party for Bao Bao. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

(海角社区app / Kathy Stewart) — Melissa Davis from Leesburg brought her 18-mobnth-old daughter Katie Davis to say goodbye to Bao Bao. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time she ever said Panda,鈥� said Davis.. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

First time 1 1/2 yr old Katie Davis says "panda." Her mom Melissa Davis is a panda lover and Katie is a panda lover and training.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

Katie Davis, 1, 聽says “panda” as she watches Bao Bao at the National Zoo. Her mom Melissa Davis is a panda lover and Katie is a panda lover and training. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart) (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

The kickoff to saying goodbye to Bao Bao who's moving to China on February 21st.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

The National Zoo held a private going away party for聽Bao Bao, who’s moving to China on Feb. 21. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart) (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

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A going away party at the zoo for Bao Bao (Jennifer Ortiz)

WASHINGTON– Friends of the National Zoo held a private going away party for Bao Bao on Saturday morning as the beloved panda’s big move to China quickly approaches.

Under a breeding agreement with China, pandas at the National Zoo are moved to China by the time they are 4 years old in order to keep the population genetically diverse, according to the National Zoo website.

Bao Bao will turn 4 in August, but because Giant Pandas are cold weather animals a winter flight to China would be much cooler for Bao Bao, according to a zookeeper. Bao Bao will be moving to China on Feb. 21.

Karen Myers has been following Bao Bao ever since the cub鈥檚 mother (Mei Xiang) went into labor with her.

鈥淪adly we have to say goodbye,鈥� Myers said. “Honestly, Bao Bao is going to go to China, and she鈥檒l be a good ambassador. I think she鈥檒l have some really pretty cubs.鈥�

Melissa Davis from Leesburg, Virginia, brought her 18-month-old daughter Katie Davis to say goodbye to Bao Bao. “It’s the first time she ever said Panda,” said Davis.