In January 1986, Dublin Zoo received two very special visitors: giant pandas Ming Ming and Ping Ping. A newly released file includes a one-page fax from the Irish Embassy in Beijing outlining the terms of the loan.
The pandas were an instant sensation—142,000 visitors flocked to the zoo in the first month alone. This cultural exchange highlights how diplomacy can take many forms, even involving bamboo and black-and-white fur.
Reference: NAI/DFA/2025/124/1
Image: Fax detailing panda loan arrangements.