Many Countries Return Giant Pandas, as China’s ‘Panda Diplomacy' Comes to an End

The Smithsonian National Zoo's Giant Panda Mei Ziang, sleeps in the indoor habitat at the zoo in Washington on Aug. 23, 2015. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

Japan, Finland, the United Kingdom, and the United States have recently announced that they will return leased giant pandas to China. The United States and Taiwan each lost one of their giant pandas due to illness.

Japan Returned Four Giant Pandas

According to Japan’s Kyodo News agency, 30-year-old male panda Eimei and his twin daughters Ouhin and Touhin, eight years old, left Japan by plane on the evening of Feb. 22. The day before, Wakayama Adventure World held a farewell ceremony for them.

Eimei returned to China for panda conservation and breeding research, while his twin daughters returned to China to find a mate, the report said.