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

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 is working to establish a new agreement with China to bring back giant pandas, following the return of Lun Lun, Yang Yang, Ya Lun, and Xi Lun to China in October. The pandas were previously on loan as part of a 50-year conservation program, and their departure drew many visitors to the zoo for farewells.

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.