Welcome Back, Pandas! Two Furry Diplomats Are Headed to the D.C. Zoo.

Imagine being uprooted from your home, and then transported across the world to serve as a symbol of diplomatic goodwill. This is the reality faced by two pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, who are set to be relocated from China to the US. However, using pandas as tokens to mend international relations raises serious ethical concerns. While they may be treated well in their new home, are all the hassle and isolation from their species worth it? Pandas could be living their best life at home if humans hadn’t decided to relocate them halfway across the world. Animals don’t speak for themselves, but if we put ourselves in the panda’s place, would we be content being trapped in a cage all our lives? Even with family and friends, will you be ok to be moved to a place far from everything you have known?

Now, consider that this change wasn’t even made due to a necessity, but due to a greater reason far beyond you. Studies have shown that animals display behavior similar to humans in many ways, and mental health issues do exist among other creatures. With our limited knowledge on animals, such as Pandas, is it really necessary to move them around like toys on a whim? We must question the ethics of using living beings as tools for political gain. Relocating pandas for diplomatic purposes prioritizes spectacle over the animals’ well-being, and it might not be the right thing to do.