French zoo returns sick panda and companion to China

A popular panda couple at a French zoo will return to China in November after the female was diagnosed with kidney failure, the park's director told AFP on Monday (22).

Huan Huan and Yuan Zi arrived at Beauval Zoo in central France in 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" program, which sends the mammals around the world.

The pandas, both 17 years old, were supposed to remain in France until January 2027 but will be returned to a sanctuary in Chengdu "in consultation with Chinese authorities," zoo director Rodolphe Delord said.

"The female has kidney failure, a chronic disease common in aging carnivores. Therefore, we preferred to transport her to China before her condition worsens," he told AFP.

Their return is scheduled for November 2025 “so they can live out their retirement in peace,” Delord added.

Huan Huan and Yuan Zi had three cubs during their time in France and became stars at the Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher.

The oldest, Yuan Meng, left the country in 2024, while the twins born in 2021 will remain there to "raise awareness" about "the need to protect this emblematic species," the director explained.

Last year, the giant panda was downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of endangered species.

Delord said he hoped to extend the zoo's partnership with China beyond 2027. "And perhaps bring more pandas in the future," he added.

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