SEPANG: The first Malaysian-born panda - Nuan Nuan - has left Malaysia to go back to China.

The two-year-old female panda cub departed on Flight MH6476 at the MASkargo depot at about 5.35pm on Tuesday.

The flight is expected to land at Shuanglin Airport in Chengdu, China at 10.55pm local time.

Nuan Nuan will then be brought to the Dujiangyan Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China.

Nuan Nuan is the offspring of the two giant pandas in Zoo Negara, Xing Xing and Liang Liang.

Baby panda Nuan Nuan at Maskargo in Sepang. - Azman Ghani / The Star

Xing Xing and Liang Liang arrived here in May 2014 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.

The pair came to Malaysia in 2014 on a 10-year loan from China.

MASkargo chief executive officer Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi said the team is well equipped with the expertise and knowledge necessary for live animal handling and transportation.

"We successfully transported Nuan Nuan's parents just over three years ago and this is our national duty to bring their daughter back to China," he said.

Ahmad Luqman said that MASkargo is proud to be a part of such a significant event.

"We have to make sure the documentation is in order and that the crate specifications are in compliance with international rules," he said at the send-off ceremony here.