Japan bids farewell to its final pandas, Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao, as the Tokyo zoo closes this chapter, leaving the country to navigate life without giant pandas.
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(Photo Credit : Reuters)
1 / 7Japan says farewell to its last two pandas | On Sunday, January 25, panda enthusiasts in Tokyo gathered to say an emotional goodbye to Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao, the nation’s only remaining giant pandas. This marks the first time in nearly 50 years that Japan will be without pandas, according to an AFP report. (Image: Reuters)
(Photo Credit : Reuters)
2 / 7Pandas symbolize China-Japan relations | The beloved black-and-white bears were sent to Japan as part of China’s longstanding “panda diplomacy.” Typically, these giant pandas are placed in foreign zoos for a set duration before being returned to China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, they have come to represent the friendship between Beijing and Tokyo. (Image: Reuters)
(Photo Credit : Reuters)
3 / 7Emotional moments at Ueno Zoo | Visitors at Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo were seen wiping away tears as the four-year-old twins enjoyed their bamboo. Many dressed in panda-themed attire and carried stuffed animals to commemorate the last public viewing. The twin pandas were born at Ueno Zoo in 2021 and have attracted significant attention over the past four years. (Image: Reuters)
(Photo Credit : AP)
4 / 7Limited viewing attracts large crowds | Due to an online lottery system, only 4,400 people were permitted to see the pandas. Others gathered outside the zoo, eager for a glimpse, demonstrating the animals’ immense popularity among families and children in Japan. (Image: AP)
(Photo Credit : AP)
5 / 7Visitors share their feelings and hopes for a return | Tokyo resident Gen Takahashi shared with AFP that viewing the pandas fosters a connection to China. Many visitors noted the bears’ playful antics made them especially charming and expressed hopes for their eventual return to Japan. (Image: AP)
(Photo Credit : Reuters)
6 / 7Pandas returning amid diplomatic strains | The pandas are set to depart for China on Tuesday. Their return was confirmed last month following statements by Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding possible military actions concerning Taiwan, which angered Beijing, perceiving the island as its own territory. (Image: Reuters)
(Photo Credit : Reuters)
7 / 7Experts suggest pandas may return if relations improve | While the timing might not be overtly political, experts believe that the future return of pandas could signify a thawing of diplomatic relations. Masaki Ienaga, an expert on East Asian relations, informed AFP that pandas could feature in discussions if both nations pursue improved ties. (Image: Reuters)
