Tokyo announced that the giant panda "Shan Shan" at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo will be returned to China on February 21, 2020.
This was announced by Governor Koike at a press conference held on the 23rd.
Ueno Zoo's female giant panda "Shang Shan", who will be 5 years old this year, was originally stipulated in the agreement between the capital and China that it would be returned when it turned 2 years old.
However, due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the staff could not accompany him, so the return date was changed five times.
Since many people are expected to visit before the return, a lottery will be held in advance from the 21st of next month until the final viewing date of February 19th, and a maximum of 2,600 people will be able to see it per day. That's it.
Applications for the lottery will begin on the 6th of next month.
Governor Koike said, "I think there are many people who feel sad that Xiang Xiang, who was loved by everyone five and a half years after being born in Ueno, is returning to China. I understand that she plays a major role in the conservation and breeding of pandas. I would like it," he said.