They gave birth to the celebrity giant panda Xiang Xiang in 2017, which was returned to China last year, as well as twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in 2021. All three pandas, born and raised at the zoo, attracted crowds of panda lovers from both home and abroad.

Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China.

Thousands of Japanese fans have bid farewell to their beloved panda couple that made their final public appearance at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo before returning to China for medical treatment

Thousands of Japanese fans bid tearful farewell to their beloved panda couple that made their final public appearance at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo on Saturday before returning to China for medical treatment.

Just like pandas, I hope Japan and China can be friends,' said a visitor, who came to admire Ri Ri and Shin Shin at Ueno zoo Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo on Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China.

Due to the excessive costs associated with their care, two giant pandas leased from China and kept at a Finnish zoo were returned.

Shutterstock / Elena Sirotkina A zoo in Finland has agreed to send to loaned pandas back to China after the costs of keeping the critters have become too much. According to the NY Post, declining visitors to the zoo have made the pandas unaffordable.