4 giant pandas at western Japan zoo depart for China

28/6/2025 13:16

Four giant pandas in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama departed for China on Saturday.



The giant pandas, 24-year-old Rauhin and her three daughters, eight-year-old Yuihin, six-year-old Saihin and four-year-old Fuhin, left Adventure World amusement park in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China's Sichuan Province.



Early in the morning, park staff waved flags to bid farewell to the giant pandas, while many fans, wearing T-shirts with pictures of the four giant pandas on them, waited at the intersection outside the park to wave goodbye when the pandas' transport truck passed by.



The zoo's director Koji Imazu said in an interview with the media that although the giant pandas have left, the amusement park still hopes to retain the panda element as an important part of attracting visitors.



The zoo's panda breeding team said the four pandas are currently in good condition and that the team has fully communicated with the staff who will take over their care in China about the characteristics and traits of each panda.



Adventure World began a joint breeding program with the Chinese panda research base in 1994.