New giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta making their debut Friday

The wait to see the new giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta is over.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang are set to make their public debut at Zoo Atlanta on Friday.

“This is a momentous occasion in Zoo Atlanta history. We are overjoyed to introduce Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and the all-new Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove to our community, City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, and beyond,” Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King said.

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A special ceremony will take place inside the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove at 8 a.m. WSB-TV will live stream the ceremony on our YouTube page.

Zoo Atlanta is one of only three zoos in the United States where visitors can see giant pandas in person. Zoo Atlanta and the Chinese government announced back in April that the zoo would receive two new giant pandas.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. The pair arrived from China following a 16-hour journey in September.

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The pandas have spent the past two months adjusting to their new home in the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, which was updated with a $6 million renovation.

Zoo Atlanta said the habitat now has expanded panda dayrooms, new climbing structures, a pool in each dayroom and new climbing structures in the outdoor habitats.

The zoo also said it redesigned the complex with water features, aquatic plants and a sculpture tied to the giant panda’s role as a global symbol for peace and harmony.

“Members and guests who recall the original giant panda habitat will know immediately upon entry that they are in for an entirely new experience,” King said.

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