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Ecns wire

Memphis Zoo holds farewell party for Ya Ya ahead of return to China

2023-04-10 09:44:58Ecns.cn Editor : Zhang Dongfang ECNS App Download

Visitors view giant panda Ya Ya during a farewell party held at the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, the United States, April 8, 2023. (Photo/VCG)

(ECNS) -- The Memphis Zoo in Tennessee held a farewell party for giant panda YaYa ahead of her departure back to China on Saturday, enabling visitors to say goodbye.

About 500 people attended the event, which featured a demonstration by the Tennessee Happy Kung Fu School.

The farewell party, highlighted by Chinese cultural performances, marked the end of a 20-year lease agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens that landed Ya Ya in Memphis.

Ya Ya came to the Memphis Zoo in 2003 with male giant panda Le Le, but unfortunately, Le Le died in February ahead of the pair's scheduled return to China. The death was caused by heart disease, according to an autopsy by Chinese and American experts.

The zoo said Ya Ya will likely head back to China at the end of April and stay in Shanghai for quarantine before heading for Beijing.