Tokyo Giant Pandas to be Returned to China

(Shin Shin or Ri Ri, Ueno Zoo, January 2017)

Giant Pandas living at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens since 2011 will be returned to China on September for treatment due to health concerns.  The final day for viewing will be September 28th.

Ri Ri and Shin Shin are both aged 19 (considered old age for pandas), have been receiving medication for high blood pressure since September 2023. In addition, Ri Ri has had occasional incidents of vomiting and experts don't know the reason. The current loan agreement expires in February 2026, but both Japan and China agree that it will be better for them to return to China before their health deteriorates. They are the parents of Xiang Xiang, who was sent to China in 2023, and twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, born in June 2021.  The twins will remain at Ueno Zoo.