Crowds are flocking to a theme park in western Japan to see four giant pandas that are set to be transferred to China around late June.
Many people in Japan are currently enjoying the spring holiday season.
About 800 guests lined up outside Adventure World in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, on Thursday before it opened for the day.
As soon as the gates opened at 9:30 a.m., half an hour earlier than usual, visitors headed straight to one of the panda exhibits, where two pandas were in full view.
They enjoyed watching 8-year-old Yuihin and 4-year-old Fuhin eat bamboo, calling out to them and taking photos.
A visitor in her 50s said she rearranged her schedule to come to the theme park after learning the four pandas would be sent to China. She added that she is very sad to think it may be her last time to see them.
Another visitor in his 50s said he wanted his grandchild to see the pandas. He said he hopes the theme park will have pandas again by the time his grandchild grows up.
The park announced last week that the four pandas will be sent to China as a joint panda conservation project is set to expire in August.
AloJapan.com