The female giant panda "Xianxiang" at Tokyo Ueno Zoo will be returned to China on the 21st of this month, and the giant panda "Eimei", which is kept at a theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, will be returned to China on the 22nd of this month. .
Just before the return, we interviewed the reaction of the facilities on the Chinese side to be transferred.
'Shang Xiang' to be transferred to global conservation research center
Ueno Zoo's giant panda "Xianxiang", which will be returned to China, will be transferred to a facility in Ya'an, more than 100 kilometers southwest after arriving at the airport in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, inland.
Ya'an has a world-renowned panda conservation and research center with about 60 pandas.
Among them, in the panda area returned to China from foreign countries, you can observe pandas up close from a distance of about 5 meters.
Visitors took pictures of the pandas that were returned from the United States four years ago eating their sasa and called out their names.
A part of the exhibition explaining the food of the panda also used a picture of Shanshan eating bamboo shoots.
A Chinese tourist who knows the news that Shan Shan will be returned to China said, "I want you to come to China well and feel the beauty of Sichuan Province."
A local tourist who was visiting with a friend said, "There is delicious bamboo in Sichuan province. Everyone welcomes the arrival of Xiang Xiang."
Ueno's last visitor "I want to visit China"
On the 19th, the last day of viewing of "Shang Shan", many fans, including those who were not selected for the viewing lottery, visited Ueno Zoo with a stuffed toy called "Hugging Shan Shan", which is about 65 cm in size. rice field.
One of them, Ms. Natsuki Mizuguchi (37), was the very last and last viewer with number 100 among the 100 people who won the slot from 4:00 pm, which was the last viewing.
Mr. Mizuguchi said that she wore a hoodie and shoes designed using plenty of photos of Xiangshan that she took herself, and she faced her last moment in a "whole body Shanshan" state.
Before the viewing, Ms. Mizuguchi said, "I still don't really get it. I think we'll meet again next week, and I think the sense of loss will grow more and more." She then headed to the zoo.
She was living abroad for a while, but when she got sick, she returned to Japan and stayed at her house for days.
That's when she started following Shan Shan's existence.
Due to her physical condition, it was difficult for her to go out, so I watched her growth on TV and the Internet, but when it was announced that she would be returned to China, she decided to visit the zoo.
Mizuguchi said that she was captivated by the cuteness of Xiang Shan, which was more than what she usually saw on the screen, and that she was able to go out after this day.
She said, ``She bought an annual passport the day we first met, and has been going every day since. I looked back.
Every time she sees Shan Shan's innocent appearance, Mizuguchi says, "It's like being told that it's okay to be yourself. It gave me courage and encouragement." she says.
In addition, Mr. Mizuguchi started giving out Xiang Shan goods that he made for free to those who wanted them, which became popular among fans.
Ms. Mizuguchi said, "She gradually became more confident. When she wears this outfit, she sometimes asks me to sell shirts and hoodies."
Ms. Mizuguchi entered the Panda House after receiving many messages from fans she met through Xiangshan.
Finally, I waved to Shan Shan and left the panda house.
Looking at the numbered ticket numbered 100, Mr. Mizuguchi said, “This ticket has become a treasure. I'm in a position to support them, so I want to visit China," she said with tears in her eyes.
Facility on the Chinese side "We will do our best to help you get used to life here"
Before returning to China three giant pandas kept at a theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, a facility on the Chinese side responded to NHK's coverage.
The 30-year-old male "Eimei" who has 16 children and has been loved as "Super Papa", and the 8-year-old female twins "Sakurahama" and "Momohama" will be returned to China.
The three will be housed at the Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, in China's inland Sichuan province.
The facility, which houses about 230 pandas, is also a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists, and was visited by 9 million people a year before the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
"Ohama", the first child of "Eimei" and returned in 2004, was also raised in this facility, eating bamboo and moving around energetically.
There are about 100 keepers in the entire facility, and the only Japanese keeper, Ms. Nobuko Abe, supports panda breeding and parenting.
In the future, if "Sakurahama" and "Momohama" become pregnant, there is a possibility that they will be in charge.
Abe said, "I think Japanese fans will be relieved if they can see Eimei eating bamboo from China. I will do my best to support Eimei so that he can get used to life here." was
After arriving in China, the three pandas will spend about a month in a special facility for quarantine, and will be released to the public if they are healthy.