Pandas leaving National Zoo for move to China

Washington — The panda population in the United States is dropping by three.

Atlanta’s zoo announced Thursday that its 3-year-old giant panda twins will leave the zoo Nov. 3. And the National Zoo in Washington said it will be saying bye-bye to panda cub Bao Bao in 2017. The zoo didn’t give a date but said the cub will move to China within the first few months of the new year.

A total of four U.S. zoos have pandas as part of a loan agreement with China. As part of the agreement, all adult offspring are sent to China.