PASADENA, CA (Jan. 2, 2025) – For the second consecutive year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance took home the prestigious Sweepstakes Trophy at the 136th annual Rose Parade Presented by Honda, honoring the most beautiful float in design, floral presentation, and entertainment. The float, titled “Friendship Across the Earth,” celebrated the historic arrival of giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo in 2024, marking the first time in 21 years that giant pandas have come to the United States.
The float, designed to reflect the rich biodiversity of Asia’s ecosystems, depicted the two pandas in a stunning display, with Xin Bao and Yun Chuan gracefully positioned on a dramatic ridgeline surrounded by lush bamboo. Xin Bao, whose name translates to “precious treasure of prosperity and abundance,” appeared serenely listening to the theme song “Best Day Ever,” as she gazed toward the future. Beside her, Yun Chuan, named after his grandmother—a beloved San Diego Zoo panda—delighted in bamboo shoots, symbolizing the enduring legacy of the zoo’s conservation efforts.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance President and CEO Paul Baribault expressed his pride in the win, noting, “To receive the Sweepstakes Award is an honor in itself, but this year feels especially momentous. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao brought the world together, representing what is possible when we unite with a shared purpose and commitment.”
In addition to the pandas, the float featured a vibrant cast of wildlife, including the striking Malayan tiger, Connor, and playful red pandas Lucas and Adira, who frolicked in the treetops. The float also celebrated the work of the Alliance’s conservation team, with Dr. Megan Owen, Jana Biedenweg, and Dr. Xiaoxing Bian—leading experts in wildlife science and conservation—featured riding on the float.
Standing at 55 feet long, the float incorporated over 700,000 individual plants, including bamboo species like yellow groove, golden, and black bamboo, grown and propagated at the San Diego Zoo. The zoo’s extensive botanical garden, home to more than 3,100 plant species, played a crucial role in this year’s float, further underscoring the zoo’s commitment to global conservation.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a longstanding tradition of award-winning floats. In 2024, its “It Began With a Roar” float, which celebrated the zoo’s 107-year history, also received the Sweepstakes Trophy. In 2023, its “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation” float, honoring the 50th anniversary of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, won the Animation Award for outstanding use of animation.
As a soldier in conservation, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to their native habitats through cutting-edge science, wildlife care, and international partnerships. The Alliance reaches over a billion people annually through its renowned parks and media channels.
The Rose Parade’s 2025 theme, “Best Day Ever!” was a fitting backdrop for the joyous celebration of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao’s arrival, and the breathtaking float reflected the zoo’s dedication to sharing the best of the natural world with audiences around the globe.
For more information on the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, visit www.sdzwa.org.
