"Two panda bears that have lived in France since 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme fly home from Paris on Tuesday. The pair of giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, have been living at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, central France, where they have become firm favourites among visitors. Over 200 well-wishers gathered on Sunday to bid the pandas farewell."
"China's embassy "Rest assured, French friends, new giant pandas will arrive in the future," the AFP news agency quoted Chinese embassy official Chen Dong as saying. The pandas, who are both aged 17 years old, were meant to have stayed in France until January 2027, but a decision was made to send them back to China after Huan Huan was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease."
"Beauval Zoo, when announcing the pair would be leaving, said in September that the pandas "have touched the hearts of millions of visitors, sparked vocations, inspired wonder, and helped raise awareness about the preservation of endangered species." China's 'panda diplomacy' China has a history of leasing the iconic pandas to other countries in a bid to build diplomatic ties, dubbed "panda diplomacy.""
Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, two giant pandas aged 17, have lived at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, France, since 2012 under a Chinese lease program. The pair flew back to China from Paris after Huan Huan was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, ending their expected stay that was to run until January 2027. Over 200 well-wishers gathered to bid them farewell at the zoo and they traveled to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport under heavy police protection. The pandas produced three cubs in France; twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at Beauval for now.
Read at www.dw.com
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