The last pair of giant pandas will return to China in January next year.

Reference News website, December 15 report: According to the Japanese Asahi Shimbun website, on December 15, Tokyo metropolitan authorities disclosed that the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo will return twin giant pandas "Xiaoxiao" (male) and "Leilei" (female) to China in early January next year.

Currently, there are only two giant pandas in Japan. The Japanese side has requested to lease new giant pandas from China, but it is currently not possible to achieve this goal. Japan will face a situation without any giant pandas in the country for the first time in 50 years.

"Xiaoxiao" and "Leilei" were born at the Ueno Zoo in 2021.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has already requested to lease a new pair of giant pandas, but it is difficult to welcome new pandas to Japan before the Ueno Zoo returns "Xiaoxiao" and "Leilei".

Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto Yashiro recently made remarks regarding Taiwan, which triggered strong opposition from China. A related person said, "Under these circumstances, it is unlikely to realize the new leasing."

The first giant pandas arrived in Japan in 1972 when Japan and China normalized diplomatic relations. Including giant pandas leased from China and those born in Japan, Japan has welcomed more than 30 giant pandas so far. The Adventure World theme park in White Beach Town, Wakayama Prefecture, returned four giant pandas to China in June this year. Currently, only "Xiaoxiao" and "Leilei" remain as the two giant pandas in Japan. After these two pandas are returned to China, Japan will have no giant pandas for the first time since 1972. (Translated by Ma Xiaoyun)

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7583963239601242633/

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