A pair of giant pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens will return to China in late September to be treated for high blood pressure.
Male Ri Ri and female Shin Shin both turned 19 years old this year. They are the parents of twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei.
Ri Ri and Shin Shin have been receiving medication since showing signs of high blood pressure last year, but their conditions have not improved.
The pandas are on loan from China until 2026, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Chinese side agreed that it would be better for them to be treated in their motherland.
They will depart for China on September 29.
A farewell event including an exhibition about their years at Ueno Zoo will start on Tuesday. Officials will also accept messages of goodwill for the pandas from September 15.
Ri Ri and Shin Shin can be viewed at the zoo until September 28. Access to the final session from 3 p.m. will be determined by lottery. Applications will be accepted online from Tuesday.
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko said on Friday that she hopes people give the pandas a warm sendoff.