On February 21, the 5-year-old giant panda "Xiangxiang" flew to Chengdu and arrived home safely. On the days when Xiangxiang went home, netizens were still worried about the giant panda "Yaya" in the United States, on the 22nd, the topic of "Yaya" has repeatedly rushed to the hot search, what is the current situation of "Yaya", can I return to China in advance?
He has been in the United States for 20 years
The companion fell before returning home
"Yaya", female, genealogy number 507, was born in Beijing Zoo on August 3, 2000. In April 2003, as part of the Sino-US joint conservation and research program for giant pandas, the male giant panda "Lele" from Shanghai Zoo and the female giant panda "Yaya" from Beijing Zoo arrived in Memphis by plane and began their career in the United States, making Memphis Zoo the fourth zoo in the United States to have a panda.
In 2013, after the 10-year lease of the two pandas ended, Memphis Zoo signed an agreement with the China Zoo Association to extend the lease for another 10 years.
On December 21, 2022, local time, the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, USA, announced that it will return the giant pandas "Yaya" and "Lele" in the United States to China, ending the 20-year lease period. However, just 2 months after the countdown to return to China, "Lele" died suddenly at the age of 25, and the Memphis Zoo said that the cause of "Lele" death was "undetermined" and was under investigation.
On February 4, 2023, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States said in response to a reporter's question about the death of the giant panda Lele that a Chinese expert group would go to the United States to investigate the cause of death.
△Yaya's dormitory. Photo: China Zoo Association
It was exposed to be skinny and had a poor living environment
Netizens are distressed that "Yaya" is not doing well
As early as January 2021, some netizens broke the news that the giant pandas "Yaya" and "Lele" living in the United States living at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, USA, were skinny and suspected of serious stereotypical behaviors (animals in captivity slept all day or covered their heads, or shook their heads, walked around in cages, and even had self-harm behaviors such as tearing hair and pecking feathers, which is stereotypical behavior).
The netizen also said that the environment of the giant panda living venue is harsh, there is no fresh bamboo to eat, the feeding amount does not meet domestic standards, and the keepers never interact with them. After the news was released, it attracted widespread attention.
△ The comparison chart of the giant panda "Yaya" and "Gao Gao" posted by netizens in the United States. Photo: Netizen "Gu Mi" Weibo
In response, the staff of the China Zoo Association responded that "Yaya" is now 22 years old and has been suffering from skin diseases, so he is not in good condition. After communicating with the Memphis Zoo, I learned that there is no problem with bamboo and the living venue, and will continue to communicate with each other.
In Defense of Animals, an American animal protection organization, has said that the two giant pandas, Yaya and Lele, are in very bad condition, underweight, eat little, and show obvious signs of stereotyping and even self-harm.
On the evening of the 21st, @中国蓝新闻 followed the latest news of the giant panda "Yaya" in the United States through a slow live broadcast on Weibo, and as of the afternoon of the 22nd, more than 13.43 million people had watched it online. According to China Blue News, the health of the panda "Yaya" is worrying.
A volunteer in the United States revealed to reporters that "Yaya" currently has a large area of skin diseases on her body and is covered in dirt.
The China Zoo Association has published:
The giant pandas at the Memphis Zoo are well cared for
The reporter noticed that regarding the current situation of giant pandas "Lele" and "Yaya" in the United States, the China Zoo Association has repeatedly published instructions on its official website on the breeding and health conditions.
In the article "Explanation of the Giant Panda Cooperation Project between the China Zoo Association and the Memphis Zoo", the China Zoo Association said that after carefully reviewing the monthly report and recent annual physical examination, CAZG believes that the giant pandas at the Memphis Zoo are well cared for. CAZG believes that the giant pandas at Memphis Zoo receive high-quality care in their old age.
In an earlier article "Explanation on the Breeding and Health of the Giant Pandas "Lele" and "Yaya" in the United States", the China Zoo Association said that in January 2022, experts from the Chinese and US organizations assessed that the two giant pandas "Lele" and "Yaya" were both thin in weight, and the blood test results did not show any evidence of disease; Imaging studies were unabnormal. "Yaya" suffers from hair loss caused by chronic Demodex mites. This condition varies with the seasons and is affected by hormonal fluctuations. A dental examination of Lele revealed multiple broken molars. All broken teeth are not loose or infected and remain functional.
△Photo: China Zoo Association
Netizens swipe the screen to pick up Yaya and go home:
I hope to return to the embrace of the motherland as soon as possible
After the death of the giant panda "Lele", the recent situation of "Yaya" caused domestic netizens to worry, and they all called for "Yaya" to be brought back to China as soon as possible. On February 22, the topic of "Yaya" rushed to the top of the hot search, and terms such as "distressed Yaya" and "netizens brushed the screen to pick Yaya home" were also on the hot search.
Netizen @椿小搌bud: I feel sorry for Lele, and hope that Yaya can return to the embrace of the motherland as soon as possible.
Netizen @ Round Fat Er: Yaya Lele can't eat enough every day, and it's really bitter to persist for so many years under such circumstances! I hope to take Yaya Lele home early.
Netizen @Kristyyin: I have never seen such a national treasure raised!
Netizen @ I am terrifying: I have never seen such a skinny panda, so pitiful!
Will Yaya be able to go home early?
The follow-up to return to China is being processed
Will Yaya be able to go home early? On the morning of February 20, the China Zoo Association said that it had received letters and calls from panda fans and netizens and attached great importance to this matter.
A person familiar with the matter said that the staff of the China Zoo Association revealed: "According to the previous plan, the relevant experts have left for the United States, and if the procedures are smooth, Yaya will return to China early." ”
Some insiders said that if Yaya returned to China, she should first go to the Beijing Zoo. According to media reports, the zoo staff revealed that the park is still going through the approval procedures for Yaya's return to China, and the specific date of return is not yet known.
On February 11, Shanghai Zoo said veterinary experts would leave this month "to go abroad for business."
As soon as the news came out, many netizens were still worried: does Yaya still need to wait until the contract expires in April to return to China? At present, "Yaya" has problems with her physical health, can she be taken back to China for medical treatment?
In this regard, people familiar with the matter said that when giant pandas returning to China in the United States, they must complete all relevant procedures before they can put their return to China on the agenda. "In other words, if all the procedures for 'Yaya' to return to China can be completed before the contract expires on April 7, it is possible to return to China on time, or even return early." However, some staff members of the China Movement Association said that if there is no accident, "Yaya" will return to China on the agreed date on April 7 at the latest.
△Photo: China Zoo Association
Xiaoxiang Morning News comprehensive report