The 17-year-old panda couple, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, will be returned to the Chengdu panda reserve instead of remaining in France until 1/2027, Rodolphe Delord, director of the Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan, central France, said today. The French zoo has contacted Chinese officials about the return.
"Huan Huan has kidney failure, a chronic condition that often occurs in older animals. Therefore, we want to bring her back to China before her condition worsens," Delord said.
According to Delord, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi are expected to return to China in November "to enjoy their retirement." Huan Huan is still eating well and exhibiting no unusual behavior.
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Huan Huan and Yuan Zi at Beauval Zoo, central France, 1/2012. Photo: AFP |
Huan Huan and Yuan Zi at Beauval Zoo, central France, 1/2012. Photo: AFP
Chinese officials sent Huan Huan and Yuan Zi to Beauval zoo in 2012 as part of Beijing's "panda diplomacy" efforts. The panda couple gave birth to three cubs and became star attractions, helping Beauval zoo welcome 2 million visitors and generate over 130 million USD in revenue in 2023.
Under the agreement between the two countries, the first of the three panda cubs was returned to China in 2024. The twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at Beauval to "raise awareness among visitors about protecting this iconic species." Delord hopes to maintain cooperation between the zoo and China after 2027.
China began its "panda diplomacy" program in 1972 when the first pair of pandas was sent to the US after former President Richard Nixon's historic visit to Beijing. China considers pandas "diplomatic ambassadors," often gifting or loaning them to countries to enhance trade relations, strengthen foreign policy, and improve its international image.
Nhu Tam (AFP)
