The Smithsonian's giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao are on loan under a 10-year diplomatic agreement with China that includes a $1 million annual fee for conservation efforts.
Notes on verification
Confirmed by the National Zoo's official FAQ, Wikipedia, and independent news outlets (Express Tribune, local Fox affiliates, Smithsonian Magazine), all corroborating the 10-year term and $1 million annual fee. [cascade flags: wikipedia_dropped_other_sources_exist | tier=silver indep_score=0.875 clusters=2 claim_tier=notable]
Sources
- Eleven Fascinating Acquisitions That Joined the ... (seed:culture_and_philosophy)
- https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giant-panda-faqs (corroboration)
- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2503236/watch-pandas-arrive-in-us-as-part-of-chinas-panda-diplomacy (corroboration)