The Beauval Zoo in central France will bid farewell to its beloved giant pandas, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, this November after more than a decade on French soil.
The decision follows a diagnosis of kidney failure in Huan Huan, the zoo announced Monday.
The pair, both 17 years old, arrived in France in 2012 under China’s famed “panda diplomacy” program, which loans pandas to foreign zoos as symbols of goodwill.
Initially expected to remain until 2027, they will now be repatriated early to the Chengdu panda sanctuary in Sichuan Province.
“The female suffers from kidney failure, a chronic condition common among aging carnivores. We prefer to return her to China before her health deteriorates further,” said zoo director Rodolphe Delord, noting that Huan Huan is still eating well and behaving normally.
A Decade of Star Power in France
During their stay, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi became the zoo’s top attractions and made history by producing three cubs—the first pandas ever born in France. Their eldest offspring, Yuan Meng, was sent to China in 2024, while twin cubs born in 2021 will remain in France for now to help raise awareness about conservation.
The pandas’ presence boosted the zoo’s popularity, drawing nearly two million visitors in 2023 and generating revenues of about €113 million ($133 million).
Looking Ahead
Although the pair will return to China for what Delord described as a “peaceful retirement,” the zoo hopes to continue its partnership with Beijing.
“And perhaps bring more pandas in the future,” Delord added.
The departure comes as the giant panda, once a global symbol of endangered wildlife, was reclassified last year from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, reflecting progress in conservation efforts.
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