Panda Cam returning to Zoo Atlanta site

After falling victim to budget cuts at the end of last year, Panda Cam, one of Zoo Atlanta’s most popular online features, is being resurrected.

The Grant Park attraction said Tuesday it has partnered with New Jersey-based Earth Cam to stream live video of the zoo’s four giant pandas beginning 10 a.m. Friday.

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Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta

Lun Lun and her cub Xi Lan cuddle at Zoo Atlanta.

• Photos: Baby Xi Lan at the zoo

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Regular cam operating hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The Panda Cam provides a source — especially during these times — of great relaxation,” said Justin Camerlengo, Earth Cam’s marketing director.

Earth Cam will operate the streaming in exchange for promotional opportunities at the zoo. The two-year deal is worth an estimated $50,000 to $60,000.

Panda fan Mara Strock, a resident of Burke, Va., has agreed to cover the cam’s local server costs.

“I love giant pandas and missed seeing Xi Lan and family on Panda Cam,” Strock said in a zoo news release.

Xi Lan was born last summer, the second cub born to pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang. Their first cub, Mei Lan, was born in 2006.

The Panda Cam has been in operation for more than a decade, but went offline because of belt tightening.

Panda fans peppered zoo officials with requests to bring it back, especially since the new favorite — Xi Lan — was barely 4 months old and still not on exhibit.

The streaming will rotate to feature all of the pandas, but will pay special attention to Mei Lan and Xi Lan.