Toronto Zoo’s chief executive will provide an update about a special exhibit, which one report is saying will be a pair of pandas from China.

Members of the zoo board are meeting Thursday morning, and one of the items on the agenda is an update by CEO John Tracogna on “a future special exhibit.” But no further details were provided, and officials weren’t immediately available for comment.

Citing sources, the Globe and Mail reported Thursday that the panda announcement will be made next week during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s five-day visit to China.

The zoo has been trying for years to bring a pair of pandas to Toronto, and even struck a Giant Panda Acquisition Task Force comprised of board and external members in its effort to raise funds and acquire the animals.

In an August 2010 letter, Tracogna said “The Zoo’s goal is to introduce the new giant panda cooperation and research project in conjunction with the 2015 PanAm Games to be held in the Greater Toronto Area.”

The 2015 year would “mark thirty (30) years since the Toronto Zoo last had a giant panda exhibit. At that time, two giant pandas, Quinn Quinn and Sha Yan, were enjoyed by millions of Toronto residents for a three-month visit.”

Special exhibits would help attract visitors to the zoo at a time when zoo attendance has been declining.

Last year, the overall number of visitors fell 5.1 per cent to 1.24 million.