Finland is set to return two giant pandas, Lumi and Pyry, to China in November, more than eight years earlier than planned. The decision comes as the Ahtari Zoo, where the pandas have been residing since January 2018, is facing financial challenges that make it difficult to sustain the animals.
The pandas were initially brought to Finland following a joint agreement signed during Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit to the Nordic country. Since its establishment in 1949, China has been sending pandas to foreign zoos as a way to strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance its global reputation.
Despite an original agreement for a 15-year stay, the pandas will soon undergo a month-long quarantine before being transported back to China. The Ahtari Zoo, a private entity, has invested over 8 million euros in the pandas' habitat and has been incurring annual costs of 1.5 million euros for their care, including a preservation fee paid to China.
The zoo's hopes of attracting visitors to the central Finland location were dampened by the pandemic, leading to financial struggles exacerbated by rising inflation. Despite efforts by China to assist the zoo, the Finnish government declined requests for funding in 2023.
After three years of negotiations, the decision to return the pandas was reached through mutual agreement between the two countries. The move is considered a business decision by the zoo and is not expected to impact diplomatic relations between Finland and China.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Helsinki expressed that the decision to return the pandas was made following friendly consultations and joint conclusions between the two nations.
