If you鈥檙e struggling to spot the difference between the Smithsonian National Zoo’s two new giant pandas, you鈥檙e not alone.
鈥淭hey’re really hard to tell apart,鈥� Stephanie Brinley, the zoo鈥檚 deputy director, said. 鈥淏ao Li is a little bit bigger than Qing Bao; but unless they’re right next to each other, it’s hard to tell.鈥�
The pandas, who made their public debut Friday morning, will remain separated until their (very short) breeding window opens 鈥� which likely won鈥檛 be for another few years.
So how can visitors and Panda Cam watchers tell them apart?
Bryan Amaral, a senior curator at the zoo, said Qing Bao, the female, is easier to spot 鈥� thanks to some spots.
鈥淚 don’t know if it’s a permanent birthmark or not,鈥� Amaral said. 鈥淏ut if you look at Qing Bao, on her rear left leg, she has a little birthmark above where the black stops and the white begins.鈥�
Qing Bao also has wider, puffier cheeks and a thinner 鈥渟addle鈥� on her back.
Zoo officials say the main thing that sets the pandas apart is actually their behavior.
鈥淥ur male is a little bit more gregarious and outgoing,鈥� said Michael Brown-Palsgrove, Asia Trail curator. 鈥淗e is really in tune with what the keepers are doing, sort of waiting for that next meal. He loves his bamboo.鈥�
Qing Bao is less likely to be sprinting around the exhibit.
鈥淪he’s a little bit more cautious, but incredibly curious,鈥� Brinley said. 鈥淪he loves to play with toys, and she loves to climb trees, so you’ll often see her up in a tree.鈥�
鈥淪he’s very confident, though,鈥� Brown-Palsgrove added.
Tickets to the National Zoo are free. From now through Feb. 9, the zoo is celebrating the pandas鈥� return with events, including a screening of 鈥淜ung Fu Panda鈥� in the Visitor Center Theater.
For those who can鈥檛 visit in person, relaunched on Friday.
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