Our beloved Butterstick was released from his 30-day quarantine at Wolong’s Bifengxia Base in Ya’an, Sichuan earlier today. Tai is reportedly getting along well with his keepers (we’re so proud!) and was allowed to roam around his new enclosure at the base for the first time.

In the next six months to a year, it’s expected the D.C.-born panda will join China’s breeding program. Hopefully he has a little better luck with “competent mating” than his parents generally do.