WASHINGTON- In a heartwarming turn of events, 10-year-old Kelsey Lambert, sporting an "I Love Pandas" t-shirt and clutching a panda-covered diary, embarked on a special journey with her mother, Alison, from San Antonio, Texas.

Their mission? To witness the beloved giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and their adorable cub, Xiao Qi Ji, at the National Zoo. The anticipation was palpable as they watched these furry rock stars casually munching on bamboo and rolling around on the grass.

Kelsey, her eyes filled with wonder, shared her excitement, saying, "It felt completely amazing. My mom has always promised she would take me one day. So we had to do it now that they're going away."

But there's a bittersweet twist to this tale. The National Zoo's pandas are set to return to China in early December, marking the end of a 50-year-old exchange agreement that was struck during the tenure of former President Richard Nixon. Despite fervent hopes, there are no public signs of this iconic agreement continuing.

National Zoo officials have been tight-lipped about the prospects of renewing or extending the agreement, leaving many in suspense. The zoo recently wrapped up a weeklong celebration called Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell, hinting at the possibility that this could indeed be the end of an era.

This farewell, however, is not an isolated incident. It's part of a broader trend observed by veteran China-watchers, dubbed "punitive panda diplomacy." Tensions between Beijing and several Western governments have surged, prompting China to gradually withdraw its pandas from multiple Western zoos as these loan agreements reach their expiration dates.

Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, emphasized this trend, noting that two American zoos lost their pandas in recent years, while zoos in Scotland and Australia are facing similar departures with no renewal in sight.

China currently lends out 65 pandas to 19 countries through "cooperative research programs," with the mission of safeguarding this vulnerable species. The pandas return to China in their old age, and any cubs born abroad are sent back to China around the age of 3 or 4.

The San Diego zoo returned its pandas in 2019, and the Memphis, Tennessee zoo bid farewell to its last bear earlier this year. If the National Zoo's pandas depart, the Atlanta Zoo will be the sole host of these magnificent creatures in the United States, at least until their loan agreement expires late next year.

The underlying cause of this panda exodus appears to be the escalating diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Western nations. Issues such as sanctions, trade disputes, and suspicions regarding technology and social media ownership have fueled this rift. China perceives itself as increasingly isolated and encircled by Western powers.

This panda-related tension even found its way into the U.S. Senate, with Senator John Fetterman lamenting China's acquisition of American farmland, quipping, "I mean, they're taking back our pandas. You know, we should take back all their farmland."

The situation escalated when Le Le, a panda on loan to the Memphis Zoo, passed away unexpectedly. Allegations of mistreatment and a campaign on social media platforms in China followed, demanding the return of Le Le's companion, Ya Ya.

Despite an official delegation's visit to Memphis affirming that Le Le was not mistreated, Ya Ya was returned to China when the loan agreement expired.

These controversies have underscored the complexities of panda diplomacy, a practice that dates back 50 years. In recent times, the tension between governments has reached new heights, making it increasingly difficult to resolve at a zoo-level.

Hope now rests on high-level intervention. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November is seen as a potential opportunity for Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping to mend relations and possibly save the panda agreement.

As the fate of these iconic pandas hangs in the balance, panda enthusiasts from all walks of life are making pilgrimages to Washington for one last glimpse.

Among them is Colleen Blue, who is already planning a visit to see the pandas in Atlanta with her partner and their upcoming baby.

Despite the uncertainty, Alison Lambert, Kelsey's mom, remains optimistic, believing that both sides will find a way to preserve this cherished agreement. And if not, Kelsey has a Plan B in mind: "We could always fly to China. That works, too."

In the end, the world watches and waits to see if pandas will continue to bridge international divides or if this beloved tradition will become a fond memory.