Bye-Bye Panda

Hua Mei, the first US-born panda, will be leaving the San Diego Zoo for China soon. The San Diego Zoo and Chinese government have an agreement that any offspring of the pandas China has loaned must go back to China after three years, you know, to get all the "American" out of their systems. Hua Mei was originally scheduled to return last year, but then SARS happened. Gothamist will miss you very much, as you gave us hours and hours of adorableness via the San Diego Zoo Panda Cam. We'll enjoy your little half brother, Mei Sheng, for the next two-plus years.

Ed: It's been too long since a panda-related post, so this one's for you, TMFTML.