Chinanews.com, April 4 (He Luman) On the morning of April 26, local time, the giant panda "Yaya" living in the United States left the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee and embarked on a journey back to China.
"Yaya" will take the special plane of the international freight company and take off at about noon of the same day to Shanghai. According to experts, "Yaya" currently has a good appetite and stable weight, has adapted to a specially customized transport cage in advance, and will successfully complete the adaptation transition stage for returning to the motherland.
This is undoubtedly a memorable time point in its "bear life". In the past years, although "Yaya" has experienced many stories, it is still the "top" in the panda world.
Less than 3 years old in the United States,
Love to be close to people
On August 2000, 8, the female giant panda "Yaya" was born in Beijing Zoo.
In April 2003, "Yaya", who was less than 4 years old, and another male giant panda "Lele" from Shanghai Zoo set off from Beijing and arrived at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, USA, after a long-distance flight, and began their sojourn life.
Screenshot of the "Yaya" video released by Memphis Zoo on February 2022, 2. Image source: Memphis Zoo official social media screenshot
As "goodwill messengers", the lively and cute "Yaya" and "Lele" were warmly welcomed by the local people and set off a "Chinese panda boom" in the United States.
In the eyes of the staff, "Yaya" is very smart and adaptable.
In addition, it is a giant panda that likes to be close to people, and when it sees the staff, it will come over and say hello, "you seem to really see a smile on its face."
expiration of the lease agreement,
Netizens are eager for "Yaya" to return to China
The Memphis Zoo announced in December 2022 that Lele and Yaya plan to return to China in the coming months due to the imminent expiration of their lease agreement with the Chinese side.
On February 2023, 2, the Memphis Zoo posted a tweet commemorating "Lele". Image source: Memphis Zoo official social media screenshot
Unexpectedly, in February 2023, 2-year-old "Lele" passed away. After the Chinese giant panda expert group went to the United States and the American experts jointly completed the autopsy, the China Zoo Association reported that the expert group observed a heart attack of "Lele" and preliminarily determined that this was the cause of death.
While Chinese netizens mourned for "Lele", they found that the state of "Yaya" was not very good. Unlike the chubby, furry giant pandas that people remember, Yaya at the Memphis Zoo is thin and has lost hair.
Although experts assess that in addition to hair loss caused by skin diseases, "Yaya" has a good appetite, normal fecal traits and stable weight, but in recent times, the call for "Yaya" to return home as soon as possible has been increasing.
Image source: Social media screenshots
Some netizens said that paying attention to the situation of "Yaya" in front of the camera every day, feeling "heartbroken", "we have lost Lele, we can no longer lose Yaya", hoping that "Yaya" can return to China as soon as possible for treatment, and called on all parties to show support.
In order to welcome "Yaya" home,
China is making full preparations
In order to further refine the preparations before returning to China and ensure the safe and secure escort of "Yaya" back to China, on March 3, US time, members of the Chinese expert group, veterinarians and keepers of Beijing Zoo arrived at Memphis Zoo to familiarize themselves with the living habits and breeding conditions of "Yaya", and worked with US staff to do a good job in the feeding care and health assessment of "Yaya".
According to previous reports, after returning to China, "Yaya" will first go to Shanghai for quarantine. Sun Quanhui, a scientist at the World Society for Animal Protection, once said that the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering and Leaving the Country" stipulates that imported animals need to be quarantined. Therefore, the giant panda also needs this step when returning from abroad. According to relevant regulations, the time of isolation and quarantine is generally 30 days.
The Memphis Zoo announced on its social media account that it will hold a farewell party for "Yaya" on April 4, local time. Image source: Screenshot of Memphis Zoo's social media account
In addition, the living and breeding environment of "Yaya" after returning to China has also attracted much attention. On March 3, the China Zoo Association responded that the Beijing Zoo had made preparations to welcome Yaya home in terms of breeding grounds, breeding plans, medical security, and feed supply.
On April 4, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference that Yaya's overall state is relatively stable, except for hair loss caused by skin diseases. The Chinese side has made all preparations to welcome Yaya back to China.
Netizens send blessings:
"May the rest of your life be filled with sunshine and love"
Now, "Yaya" can finally return to her hometown, and many foreign netizens have expressed their longing.
"I will miss Yaya terribly and I know she will also miss home for many years. I wish Yaya a safe journey. ”
"(Yaya's return to China) makes me sad. Yaya is a member of our family. Safe journey, dear girl. ”
Some netizens said to "Yaya", "We hope you can live a better life soon..."
Some netizens said that after returning home, "Yaya" will feel a lot of love.
Image source: Social media screenshots
Chinese netizens also sent good wishes to "Yaya", hoping that the rest of its life will be full of sunshine and love.
Image source: Weibo netizen comment screenshot
I believe that with everyone's blessing, "Yaya" can be more healthy and happy, welcome "Yaya" home! (End)