The giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi at Beauval Zoo will make their final public appearance this Sunday before returning to China on Tuesday, marking 13 years in France.

Key milestones include the birth and growth of their offspring, notably Yuan Meng born in 2017 and later returning to China, with the park celebrating anniversaries and visits from public figures.

The pandas arrived in France on January 15, 2012, at Charles de Gaulle Airport, transported on a special FedEx aircraft decorated with Panda Airlines imagery.

The article emphasizes the emotional impact of the departure on Beauval and its visitors, framing it as a significant chapter in the zoo’s history with the pandas.

Over 200 people gathered on Sunday to bid farewell, with visitors traveling from Bordeaux and many dressing up as pandas to mark the occasion.

Visitors will have one last chance to see the pandas on Sunday afternoon, with a commemorative photo album highlighting their French sojourn and notable moments.

The pandas are symbolic of the zoo’s identity and its broader panda diplomacy and cultural significance.

A famous panda couple, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, are leaving Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan to return to China, due to Huan Huan’s kidney problems, with departure set for Tuesday after a farewell run this weekend.

Beauval has cultivated a Sichuan forest–style habitat to resemble the pandas’ natural environment, enhancing their comfort and public interest.

Thousands of visitors and staff attended emotional adieux and a final panda-tasting event, underscoring the pandas’ significant public and tourism impact at Beauval, which drew around two million visitors in 2023.

The zoo plans to continue showcasing pandas in the future, with females remaining at Beauval and ongoing collaboration with China to extend panda diplomacy beyond 2027.

Health details show Huan Huan has renal insufficiency, a common non-severe condition for a 17-year-old panda, prompting coordination with Chinese authorities for the departure.

The departure is influenced by Huan Huan’s kidney issues and age, leading to the decision to return to China as a precaution.

The transfer is arranged in consultation with Chinese authorities due to Huan Huan’s kidney problems, not considered severely urgent but warranting action.

During their stay, the pandas interacted with notable figures, including visits by Kylian Mbappé and Chinese diver Zhang Jiaqi, and interactions with Emmanuel Macron’s era, including moments with Yuan Meng.

The pandas arrived in 2012 and have produced three offspring, including a male born in 2017 who went to China; twin pandas will remain at Beauval at least until 2027, boosting the park’s popularity and visitor numbers.

Beauval’s directors described the farewell as difficult, highlighting the strong bonds between staff and the pandas, including witnesses to France’s first panda birth at the park.

Staff and local supporters emphasize the pandas’ symbolic status for the zoo and the public’s connection to the three Beauval offspring and their public engagements.