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Welcoming a Panda Bear Pair

Tian Tian and Mei Ziang settled into their new home at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

It was the other big story in the nation's capital last week. With much fanfare, the National Zoo welcomed two young pandas from China.

The cuddly pair flew in last Wednesday on a special Federal Express jet called Panda One. The female, age 2, is Mei Xiang (may sh-ong), meaning "beautiful." Her male pal, age 3, is Tian Tian (t-yen t-yen), meaning "more and more." And that's just what zookeepers hope the pair will produce-more pandas!

The zoo's previous pandas never managed to raise a cub. The new ones seem to get along well. "They're eating nose to nose!" said zoo official Benjamin Beck.

China has lent the pair to the zoo for 10 years in exchange for $10 million to promote panda conservation. Only about 1,000 remain in the wild.

Next: Gates Gives a Grand Gift