More than two years after China and San Francisco unveiled plans for a pair of giant pandas to come to the city, the effort has largely gone quiet, with few concrete updates on its progress.

Now, Mayor Daniel Lurie is stepping in to help push the deal toward completion.

On May 20, Lurie penned a letter (opens in new tab) to San Francisco Zoo donors reaffirming the city’s commitment and political support for the panda project, describing it as a significant opportunity for San Francisco. The letter marks the mayor’s strongest public backing of the panda effort so far.

“Welcoming giant pandas would be a meaningful moment for residents across San Francisco,” Lurie wrote. “This opportunity also represents a commitment to reimagining how urban institutions can inspire stewardship, engage the public, and contribute meaningfully to global conservation efforts.”

The zoo requested the letter to show donors and the Chinese government that City Hall still supports the project.

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Cassandra Costello, the zoo’s CEO, said she is grateful for the support from city leaders as the institution works to stabilize its operations, but noted that substantial work still needs to be done.

“We appreciate the city’s continued engagement as we explore the possibility of bringing giant pandas to San Francisco,” Costello said. “This project is an exciting priority, and we are working on the necessary steps to make it a reality.”

Former Mayor London Breed initially spearheaded the effort to bring pandas to the city during her 2024 visit to Beijing, before she lost re-election to Lurie that same year.

Lurie recently returned from a trip to China, including a visit to San Francisco’s sister city of Shanghai. Before the trip, he said he planned to continue conversations surrounding the panda project.

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Lurie’s letter also made clear that the city will not directly fund the panda project through its budget. The city previously approved an $8.5 million loan to support the zoo. Leasing the pandas, renovating habitats, and growing bamboo will likely cost more than $25 million.

The effort comes as the zoo continues to recover from years of turmoil and leadership turnover, while animal activists have long criticized the zoo’s management and questioned whether it is prepared to host giant pandas. Rumors circulated earlier this year (opens in new tab) that the panda deal had fallen apart, prompting zoo officials to publicly deny the claims.

Jianmin Zhang, China’s consul general in San Francisco, told The Standard that he has spoken with local officials and believes the city remains committed to making the panda project succeed.

“On our side, we are committed to working together,” Zhang said. “I know that City Hall is also behind this project, and the Board of Supervisors has also voiced its support.”

Zhang said he was aware of reports about the zoo’s challenges in recent years but was encouraged by improvements in governance and leadership.

There is still no clear timeline for pandas’ arrival in San Francisco, and zoo officials have not disclosed a final fundraising target. But Zhang is glad to see the city’s enthusiasm.

“What makes me very happy is that I really feel there’s very strong public support in San Francisco,” Zhang said. “They all want to see giant pandas at the San Francisco Zoo.”