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France bids farewell to beloved pandas
25 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Two giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, returned to China after 13 years.
- The pandas were sent back due to Huan Huan's kidney failure and age.
- Their offspring, Yuan Meng, Huanlili, and Yuandudu, remain in France.
After a 13-year stay, France's popular giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, have departed for their native China. The 17-year-old pair traveled from Paris' Charles-de-Gaulle airport, concluding a significant era at the Beauval Zoo. Zoo director Rodolphe Delord cited their advancing age and the need for specialized care as reasons for their return.
Huan Huan's diagnosis of kidney failure, common for carnivores her age, prompted the joint decision by French and Chinese veterinary teams to send them back while travel was still feasible. This repatriation highlights China's evolving 'panda diplomacy,' transitioning from gifts to commercial loans.
While Huan Huan and Yuan Zi return to the Chengdu Research Base, their offspring – Yuan Meng, Huanlili, and Yuandudu – will continue to reside at the Beauval Zoo, which remains dedicated to raising awareness for the conservation of this iconic species.
