Exciting news for panda enthusiasts! 🐼 Tokyo's cherished giants, Ri Ri and Shin Shin, are set to return to China this September, as announced by the Ueno Metropolitan Government on Friday.
Ri Ri, a male, and Shin Shin, a female, hail from southwest China's Sichuan Province. They made their way to Ueno Zoo in February 2011 under a leasing agreement, quickly becoming crowd favorites.
These adorable pandas have been busy parenthood! They welcomed the celebrity panda Xiang Xiang in 2017, who was returned to China last year, and twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in 2021. Their playful antics and adorable moments have attracted panda lovers from around the globe.
Now 19 years old, both Ri Ri and Shin Shin have developed health issues like high blood pressure, a common concern as pandas age. This move back to China is a heartfelt homecoming for these gentle giants.
Fans in Japan and beyond will surely miss them, but it's comforting to know they’re heading back to their roots. 🌏💖
