By SHIN KASAHARA/ Staff Writer
December 25, 2022 at 13:20 JST
Female giant panda Xiang Xiang at the zoo in Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens on Dec. 19 (Provided by Tokyo Zoological Park Society)
Female giant panda Xiang Xiang, one of the star attractions at Ueno Zoo, will be sent back to China on Feb. 21, prompting a plea from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike for people not to be too upset at the news and accept that the animal is now of child-bearing age.
The 5-year-old panda was born at the zoo in the capital’s Taito Ward in 2017 to father Ri Ri and mother Shin Shin.
Initial plans called for Xiang Xiang to be returned at the end of 2020 but zoo operator Ueno Zoological Gardens said plan was postponed because experts involved in the operation were unable to travel to China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The childbearing age for giant pandas starts at the age of 4 and Xiang Xiang’s return to China is aimed at finding her a partner to breed with.
“I know many people feel sad at the decision but I would like them to understand that Xiang Xiang will go back home for the important mission of promoting the reproduction of giant pandas to preserve the species,” Koike said Dec. 23.
To avoid expected congestion, the metropolitan government decided to introduce lottery system for visitors viewing giant pandas between Jan. 21 and Feb. 19. Applications for the lottery will be accepted from Jan. 6 on the dedicated website (https://tokyo-zoo.e-tix.jp/).
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