Two hugely popular pandas at a Japanese zoo will depart on Jan 27 to join their sister in China, the Tokyo government and media said, leaving Japan panda-less for the first time in half a century.
Loaned out as part of China’s “panda diplomacy” programme, the distinctive black-and-white animals have symbolised friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since the normalisation of diplomatic ties in 1972.
Japan currently has only two pandas, Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao, at Tokyo’s Zoological Gardens in the Ueno neighbourhood.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which operates the Ueno Zoo, had previously said the last day for their public viewing would be Sunday.
The twins will then be flown out of Japan two days later, the Tokyo government said on Monday.
They are slated to arrive Jan 28 at a facility in China housing their older sister, Xiang Xiang, Kyodo News agency said.
Many fans cried when Xiang Xiang left Ueno Zoo for China in 2023, and her departure was broadcast live on local television. — AFP
