Gallery: Japan Bids Farewell to Pandas
Feb. 16, 2023
The country will say goodbye next week to four giant pandas on loan from China. Eimei, the 30-year-old father of 16 giant pandas, lives at the Adventure World amusement park in Wakayama prefecture. He will be sent back to China along with his twin offspring Ouhin and Touhin. The female giant panda Xiang Xiang, one of the star attractions at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, will also be returning. China lent its first pair of giant pandas to Japan in October 1972 to commemorate the normalization of relations between the two countries
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Giant panda Eimei checks out his Father’s Day gift at the Adventure World amusement park in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture in June 2022. The 30-year-old father of 16 will return to China with his twins Ouhin and Touhin on Wednesday. Photo: VCG
Giant panda cub Xiang Xiang plays with her mother Shin Shin at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens in February 2018. Xiang Xiang was born on June 12, 2017, after being conceived through natural mating at the zoo. She will return to China on Tuesday. Photo: VCG
Xiang Xiang plays at the zoo in June 2018. Photo: VCG
Xiang Xiang frolics in the rain in June 2019. Photo: Natsuki Sakai/VCG
Xiang Xiang takes a stroll through her enclosure in June 2019. The giant panda’s return date has been postponed several times due to Covid-19. Photo: Natsuki Sakai/VCG
Zoo visitors check out Xiang Xiang in June 2020. The giant panda turned 5 years old last year. Photo: VCG
Giant pandas Kang Kang (left) and Lan Lan arrived at the Ueno Zoological Gardens in October 1972. They were the first pair of giant pandas China lent to Japan to commemorate the normalization of relations between the two countries. Photo: VCG
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