The Smithsonian's giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao are on loan under a 10-year diplomatic agreement with China that includes a $1 million annual fee for conservation efforts.
Notes on verification
Confirmed by the Smithsonian's own press release and National Zoo FAQ, plus multiple independent news outlets (CBS, Fox 5 DC, Forbes, NPR) and Wikipedia, all agreeing on the 10-year term and $1 million annual fee.
Sources
- Eleven Fascinating Acquisitions That Joined the ... (smithsonianmag.com)
- https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giant-panda-faqs (nationalzoo.si.edu)
- https://www.fox5dc.com/news/heres-what-we-know-about-dcs-new-giant-pandas-bao-li-qing-bao (fox5dc.com)
- https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/two-new-giant-pandas-coming-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology (si.edu)
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/giant-pandas-debut-national-zoo/ (cbsnews.com)