Giant panda named Ping Ping puts on a show from his new enclosure - after being loaned to Atlanta from China

A giant panda has delighted visitors at an American zoo after putting on a show in his brand-new enclosure following his arrival from China.

Six-year-old Ping Ping made his public debut at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia on November 6, where he wasted no time making himself at home in his newly renovated surroundings.

The adorable black-and-white bear was pictured enjoying his new habitat and tucking into bamboo as visitors flocked to catch a glimpse of the zoo's newest attraction.

Ping Ping was joined by fellow six-year-old panda Fu Shuang, a female, with the pair becoming the first giant pandas to call the zoo home in two years.

The animals arrived in Atlanta from China on September 27 aboard a specially chartered FedEx aircraft dubbed the 'Panda Express', before spending several weeks in quarantine and adjusting to their new surroundings.

Both were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China and have been loaned to the American zoo as part of a ten-year conservation agreement between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

Their new home, the Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove, has undergone a £4.6million ($6million) transformation, complete with expanded indoor habitats, climbing structures and swimming pools.

The outdoor enclosures have also been fitted with new climbing equipment, while water features and aquatic plants have been introduced to create a more natural environment for the animals.

Six-year-old Ping Ping made his public debut at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia on November 6

The adorable black-and-white bear was pictured enjoying his new habitat and tucking into bamboo as visitors flocked to catch a glimpse of the zoo's newest attraction

The animals arrived in Atlanta from China on September 27 aboard a specially chartered FedEx aircraft dubbed the 'Panda Express'

Ping Ping, who was born on March 17, 2020, has already earned a reputation for his playful personality, with zoo president Raymond B. King describing him as a 'goofball'.

His female companion Fu Shuang, who celebrated her sixth birthday on October 18, is said to be more reserved and cautious when exploring unfamiliar surroundings.

Mr King said: 'He has got a lot of personality. She's a little more reserved, probably a little more cautious in trying new things.'

He added: 'But they've both adapted very, very well.'

The pandas' arrival marks a significant moment for Zoo Atlanta, which is now one of just three zoos in the United States to house the once endangered but now officially vulnerable species, alongside facilities in Washington DC and San Diego.

It is also the only zoo in the southeastern United States where visitors can see giant pandas.

The attraction previously housed pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who arrived from China in 1999 and went on to produce seven cubs during their 25-year stay.

The pair returned to China in 2024 alongside their youngest offspring, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, leaving Atlanta without giant pandas for the first time in a quarter of a century.

In a touching family connection, Ping Ping is actually the nephew of former resident Yang Yang, whose younger sister is his mother.

Female giant panda Fu Shuang is seen during her debut at Zoo Atlanta

Ping Ping, who was born on March 17, 2020, has already earned a reputation for his playful personality, with zoo president Raymond B. King describing him as a 'goofball'

Chinese ambassador to the United States Xie Feng attended the opening ceremony on November 6, alongside zoo officials and local dignitaries, to celebrate the pandas' arrival

Giant pandas were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable in 2016 following conservation efforts that helped increase their population in the wild

The latest arrivals are also part of China's long-running practice of 'panda diplomacy', which sees the country loan the much-loved animals to overseas zoos as a symbol of friendship and international cooperation.

Chinese ambassador to the United States Xie Feng attended the opening ceremony on November 6, alongside zoo officials and local dignitaries, to celebrate the pandas' arrival.

Mr King described the occasion as an extraordinary moment for the zoo and the wider city.

He said: 'This is an extraordinary moment in history for Zoo Atlanta, the City of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond.'

He added: 'We are honored to be the stewards of a species that not only brings joy and wonder to people around the world, but which also represents a conservation success story.'

Giant pandas were reclassified from endangered to vulnerable in 2016 following conservation efforts that helped increase their population in the wild.