Japan’s beloved twin giant pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo will bid sayonara to fans next month, marking the end of a 50-year panda era in the country. The siblings, born in 2021, are scheduled to return to the Chinese mainland in late January 2026 under a conservation agreement – leaving Japan without pandas for the first time since 1972.
🐼 "It’s like losing part of our family," said zoo visitor Akira Tanaka, 24, who’s visited monthly since their debut. The pandas’ departure follows recent returns of other loaned bears from Japanese zoos, as China’s conservation programs prioritize breeding research.
While no new loans have been announced, wildlife experts suggest Japan might negotiate future panda partnerships. For now, social media is flooded with #PandaMemories posts – from viral feeding videos to fan art tributes. Will Japan’s next panda chapter begin soon? Stay tuned! 📱💬
