Zoo Atlanta’s pandas had to go back to China, but zoo officials are now saying they may not be gone for good. Spokespeople said on Wednesday they are “currently engaging in dialogue” with Chinese partners on a future panda program.

Zoo Atlanta officials say they've started talks with China to bring back giant pandas to the city. Driving the news: Zoo officials announced Wednesday that they were "engaging in dialogue" with China and would begin preliminary design work on a giant panda complex to prepare for the big ole goofy creatures' future — but yet to be determined — return.

Georgia’s Zoo Atlanta announced Wednesday that it is in talks with China on a future giant panda program and is preparing to expand its panda conservation center. The center was once home to giant pandas for more than two decades but has sat empty since 2024 when the city’s four beloved pandas returned to China.

Zoo Atlanta has filed plans to renovate its giant panda habitat “in hopeful anticipation” of bringing the endearing bears back to Atlanta.