Twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei arrive at the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan province early Wednesday morning. [Photo by Li Chuanyou/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were returned from Japan early Wednesday morning to the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province, the center confirmed.
The two pandas were accompanied on the journey by experts from Japan and China. They will undergo quarantine at the Ya'an base before meeting the public.
Twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei return to the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province early Wednesday morning. [Photo by Li Chuanyou/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born in 2021 to their mother Shin Shin and her mate, Ri Ri, at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. Their elder sister, Xiang Xiang, returned to the Ya'an base in February 2023, and their parents returned to China in September 2024 due to age-related health conditions. The couple is currently in good health at the Ya'an base, the center said.
Twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei return to the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province early Wednesday morning. [Photo by Li Chuanyou/For chinadaily.com.cn]
In preparation for the twins' return, the Ya'an base rolled out a full range of measures, including enclosure disinfection, food supply, feeding management, and health monitoring.
Giant panda Lei Lei returns to the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province early Wednesday morning. [Photo by Li Chuanyou/For chinadaily.com.cn]
The efforts are made to ensure a smooth transition and quick adaptation to their new living environment, the center said.
In June last year, four pandas raised at Adventure World in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture were also sent back to China.
Giant panda Xiao Xiao returns to the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province early Wednesday morning. [Photo by Li Chuanyou/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Following the return of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, there are no giant pandas in Japan for the first time since 1972. That year, two pandas were sent to the country to commemorate the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic ties.
