After thirteen years of living in Beauval, the two pandas with the loyal community at the Loir-et-Cher zoo returned to China. Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, who were loaned by Beijing to France in 2012, departed this Tuesday, November 25, shortly after 5 am, under police escort. The latter arrived at Roissy airport, in the Paris region, where the Minister of Ecological Transition Mathieu Lefèvre, who was initially announced, was finally represented. An official from the Chinese Embassy in Paris was also present for a final farewell, before takeoff scheduled for midday. The ursid couple, aged 17, left behind two babies, a pair of female twins who will stay at Beauval until at least 2027.
Departure from Huan Huan and Yuan Zi happened for health reasons. The first, a woman, “Suffering from mild kidney problems, nothing serious at the moment. Quite a common disease in carnivores of this age.recalled Rodolphe Delord. He still chose “anticipate” the couple’s return “consult with Chinese authorities”even if all this happens “with a little pain in my heart”.
A journey of nearly 9,000 km awaits the pair, who must reach the Chengdu Conservation Center, in west-central China, as part of an international research program into giant panda reproduction.
“Departures and arrivals are zoo life,” stated, stepping down, park director Rodolphe Delord. The farewell not only saddens the staff of Beauval zoo – which welcomed two million visitors and reached a turnover of 123 million euros in 2023 – but also saddens its many admirers. About ten of them were present this Tuesday morning in front of the zoo entrance to witness the departure of the convoy. On Sunday, two days before their flight, more than 200 people turned out in Beauval to say goodbye to the pair of mammals. “Here we witnessed the birth of the first baby panda in France. This memory will remain etched in our hearts!” a caretaker was transferred.
But the Zoo Parc director warned that Beauval will continue to feature pandas: “The females live with us. I will soon meet with Chinese authorities to see how we can continue the panda adventure long after 2027.” Because beyond visitors’ attachment to them, these pandas have in recent years proven themselves to be a real diplomatic problem with Beijing. Only about twenty zoological parks outside China accept these herbivorous animals, which are a symbol of the Asian country’s diplomatic friendship. Beauval Zoo is now hopeful “start discussion” with China “to expand the partnership (…) and why not bring in other partnerships panda in the future “.
Renew Tuesday 25 November at 11:34, with the arrival of the two pandas in Roissy.
