Male big panda Xiao Qi Ji rolls round in his enclosure throughout a “Panda Palooza” occasion on the Smithsonian National Zoo on Saturday, in Washington, D.C. We’re guessing he hasn’t heard in regards to the looming authorities shutdown.

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Male big panda Xiao Qi Ji rolls round in his enclosure throughout a “Panda Palooza” occasion on the Smithsonian National Zoo on Saturday, in Washington, D.C. We’re guessing he hasn’t heard in regards to the looming authorities shutdown.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A authorities shutdown may suck the life out of the occasion for a few of Washington, D.C.’s hottest residents: the pandas.

The National Zoo is holding a sequence of panda-themed occasions to commemorate the departure of its solely three pandas: aged pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their 3-year-old son Xiao Qi Ji are heading again to China. The nine-day farewell bash is simply getting began. But Washington succumbing to a shutdown would reduce the celebrations quick a day early.

The three pandas are on mortgage from China underneath an settlement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and can return to the nation by Dec. 7.

The zoo is holding the “Panda Palooza,” its lengthy anticipated goodbye occasion for the pandas, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. Meanwhile, authorities funding will expire on Oct. 1, the identical day the federal government would shut down if Congress cannot go a brand new funding plan.

Like all Smithsonian establishments, as a result of the National Zoo receives federal funding, it too should near the general public within the occasion of a shutdown.

For many panda followers, the sendoff could also be their final probability to see the trio earlier than their farewell journey. After that, the zoo can be panda-less for the primary time in additional than 50 years.

Wind and rain has already has dampened the occasion, with the zoo canceling some Palooza occasions, The Washington Post reported. But the climate hasn’t saved avid panda followers away. Local and out-of-state residents flocked to the zoo to catch a glimpse, with many sharing photographs on social media of the pandas frolicking across the bamboo and munching on ice muffins.

As in shutdowns past, the halt of “nonessential” authorities features would additionally imply the Smithsonian’s live giant panda cam goes darkish.