Thousands of Japanese fans bid tearful farewell to their beloved panda couple, Ri Ri and Shan Shan, at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo before their journey back to China for medical treatment. The couple, both 19 years old and parents to Xiang Xiang, drew over 2,000 visitors, some of whom camped out overnight to secure a chance to see them.
Ri Ri and Shan Shan arrived at Ueno Zoo in 2011, with a lease agreement until 2026. However, due to their age and need for medical attention for high blood pressure, Japan and China agreed on their return home. Hirono Sasaki, one of the fans waiting outside the zoo since 5 a.m., expressed deep sadness, recalling how the pandas provided comfort and joy.
Visitors were granted a brief moment inside the panda couple’s hut, where they could watch them eat bamboo or catch a glimpse of them napping. As a symbolic gesture of goodwill, China sends pandas abroad while maintaining ownership rights over them and any offspring they produce. The pandas, native to southwestern China and iconic national mascots, face threats of extinction, with only around 1,800 living in the wild and 500 in zoos or reserves, predominantly in Sichuan.
Pandas, known for their low reproduction rates and bamboo-based diet, remain among the world’s endangered species. Fans expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Ri Ri and Shan Shan as they bid goodbye to the beloved pair, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these cherished animals.