TOKYO (AP) — On Saturday, a poignant farewell was observed at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo as thousands of fans gathered to see their cherished panda pair, Ri Ri and Shin Shin, make their last public appearance before heading back to China for medical treatment.
The beloved couple, both 19, are the parents of Xiang Xiang, the panda who was born in the park and returned home last year. Although their lease at the zoo is valid until 2026, both countries have decided to have them return for health concerns, particularly related to high blood pressure.
Early in the day, over 2,000 visitors queued outside the zoo, many donning T-shirts and carrying bamboo-themed items. Some camped out overnight for the chance to see the pandas one last time. Hirono Sasaki, who arrived at 5 a.m., expressed her sadness: “They were always my source of comfort, so I’m feeling extremely sad,” she shared. Sasaki fondly recalled watching Ri Ri climb trees in her habitat and expressed hope that she would be able to climb again after her return to China.
After waiting for hours, each visitor was given only a brief time inside the hut to catch a glimpse of the black-and-white animals. While a fortunate few witnessed them munching on bamboo, many could only watch as the pandas napped.
Currently, pandas are considered one of the world’s most threatened species. With approximately 1,800 living in the wild and around 500 in zoos or reserves, mainly located in Sichuan, they reproduce rarely in the wild and primarily feed on bamboo. Pandas are native to southwestern China, where they are regarded as an unofficial national symbol.
The practice of sending pandas abroad is a gesture of goodwill from China, which retains ownership over these animals and any offspring they produce. Visitors expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude as they bid farewell to Ri Ri and Shin Shin, reinforcing the strong emotional connection they share with these creatures.
This report was contributed by Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi.
___
The story has been corrected to properly identify one of the pandas as Shin Shin.
This rewritten text maintains the original HTML structure while enhancing clarity, adding emotional depth, and rearranging the paragraphs for a more engaging reading experience.
