Later, Gator! Panda Picks Michigan In Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

ATLANTA, GA -- Yang Yang, a 21-year-old male giant panda at Zoo Atlanta, has predicted No. 7 Michigan to win this year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against No. 10 Florida. The two teams will meet on Dec. 29 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Game time is set for noon ET leading into the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Michigan will be making its first trip to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, while this will mark Florida’s third appearance in the game, but its first since 2004 when the Gators faced off against Miami. This year’s matchup also represents only the fourth Big Ten vs. SEC matchup in the Bowl’s 51-year history, but the first since 1990 when Auburn defeated Indiana. Michigan leads the all-time series with Florida 4-0, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 33-17 Michigan victory in 2017.

The giant panda program at Zoo Atlanta dates to the mid-1990s, prior to the debut of giant panda pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who arrived in 1999 on loan from China. Zoo Atlanta initiated its giant panda loan with its primary Chinese partners, the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG), the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the Chengdu Zoo. Zoo Atlanta scientists developed a program focused on using behavioral and veterinary research to understand, support, and lengthen maternal care; improve reproductive success and well-being; understand giant pandas’ cognitive and perceptual abilities; and improve health, including preventative medicine.

Zoo Atlanta’s relationship with the Chengdu Research Base and Chengdu Zoo also led to the creation of conservation education departments at these institutions – the first of their kind in Chinese zoos. In 2012, Zoo Atlanta and partners Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Memphis Zoo and San Diego Zoo Global earned the prestigious International Conservation Award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for their long-term commitment to the species.

Seven giant panda cubs have been born at Zoo Atlanta: Mei Lan (2006); Xi Lan (2008); Po (2010); twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan (2013); and twins Ya Lun and Xi Lun (2016). Mei Lan, Xi Lan, Po, Mei Lun and Mei Huan currently reside at the Chengdu Research Base.

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Images Zoo Atlanta