Chinese people are excited about the first images of panda Ya Ya at Beijing Zoo, one month after her repatriation from the US.
Chinese media on May 29 published images of panda Ya Ya being brought back to Beijing Zoo, after the animal completed a month of quarantine in Shanghai since being repatriated on April 27.
Beijing Zoo announced that panda Ya Ya is now in stable condition and they have prepared a special food area for the animal.
Panda Ya Ya was brought to Beijing Zoo, China, on May 29. Video : People Daily
The appearance of the panda Ya Ya at the Beijing Zoo has caused an explosion of comments from Chinese netizens, with many expressing joy at seeing the animal appear healthier and more agile. On Weibo, China's largest social network, the keyword about Ya Ya reached more than 230 million views, topping the trending keyword on May 29.
"Ya Ya's condition has clearly improved a lot," one account commented. "It's only been a month and she already looks like a different panda," another Chinese social media user commented.
Beijing Zoo announced that due to the age of the panda Ya Ya, born in August 2000, she will not appear in public and will be cared for privately. Information about Ya Ya will be updated regularly by Beijing Zoo via Weibo.
Panda Ya Ya at Beijing Zoo, China, May 29. Photo: Xinhua
Ya Ya and Le Le were sent to the US by China in 2003 and loaned for 20 years under the "panda diplomacy " policy. Le Le passed away in February, and Ya Ya was returned to China last month.
Many Chinese people and animal rights groups around the world have previously accused the Memphis Zoo in the US of mistreating Ya Ya, causing the animal to become emaciated.
The Memphis Zoo denied the allegations, saying that Ya Ya's smaller size was due to genetics, not her care. The zoo also said that while Ya Ya looked emaciated, she was not suffering from any problems and was being closely monitored.
Chinese officials also confirmed that the panda Ya Ya was not mistreated by the US zoo. Before Ya Ya returned home, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the animal was "well cared for and loved by the American people".
Beijing regards pandas as “diplomatic emissaries” and regularly gifts or lends them to countries as a way to strengthen bilateral ties. The Global Times reported in February that China is working with 18 countries that breed pandas, including the United States, Germany, Qatar, Singapore and Japan, to research and conserve the animals.
According to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the lifespan of wild pandas is 15-20 years and that of captive pandas is about 30 years. Chinese scientists say there are pandas in zoos that can live up to 35 years.
Ngoc Anh (According to CNN/Xinhua )
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