Panda twins Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao, born at Ueno Zoological Gardens, will be transported by truck to China, ending their stay at Tokyo Zoo, where they have drawn millions of visitors. Their departure has saddened many Japanese fans who have closely followed the pandas since their birth four years ago.
The twins were loaned to Japan under China’s long-running “panda diplomacy” programme, which has symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since diplomatic ties were normalised in 1972.
Fans gather for final farewell
Before their departure, the zoo invited more than 4,000 lottery winners to see the pandas for the final time. Despite limited access, many fans gathered outside, wearing panda-themed clothing and carrying memorabilia, hoping the pandas would one day return to Japan.
Diplomatic backdrop
The early return of the pandas comes amid strained Japan–China relations following recent political tensions. However, experts noted that China routinely repatriates pandas as loan periods near completion and said the move may not be politically motivated. Tokyo officials have reportedly expressed interest in welcoming a new panda pair in future.
AloJapan.com