France bid a heartfelt farewell this week to two of its most beloved residents, giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, as the elderly pair began their journey back to China on Tuesday, November 25. Their departure marks the end of a 12-year stay at Beauval Zoo, where they became treasured ambassadors of China’s long-standing tradition of “panda diplomacy.”
Chinese embassy official Chen Dong, speaking at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, assured the public that France will not remain without giant pandas for long. “Rest assured, French friends, new giant pandas will arrive in the future,” he said as the pair prepared for their mid-day flight. The announcement brought relief to fans who had grown deeply attached to the bears since their arrival in 2012.
Huan Huan and Yuan Zi were initially expected to remain in France until 2027, but the female panda’s recent diagnosis of chronic kidney failure prompted an early return. At 17, both pandas have reached an age at which medical complications are common. The decision, though medically necessary, carried emotional weight for both the zoo team and the public.
On Sunday, more than 200 people braved cold, rainy weather to see the pandas off one final time. Among them was a devoted couple clad entirely in panda-themed outfits, claiming to have visited the bears “more than a thousand times” over the past decade. Their farewell was one among many that showcased the unique affection the French public developed for the gentle black-and-white pair.
The pandas were carefully loaded into transport crates, each marked with their names and the message “Bon voyage.” The convoy, accompanied by heavy police protection, made its way to the airport early Tuesday morning. Their scheduled 12:30 pm departure was met with mixed emotions—sadness for their absence, but gratitude for their years of presence in France.
During their time at Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi played an instrumental role in raising awareness about wildlife conservation. They became star attractions, drawing two million visitors in 2023 alone. Most notably, they made history by producing three cubs—the first giant pandas ever born in France.
The eldest cub, Yuan Meng, returned to China in 2023, while the younger twins born in 2021 will remain in France for now. Zoo director Rodolphe Delord expressed hope that the zoo’s fruitful relationship with China will continue beyond 2027, ensuring that the French public can continue to participate in global conservation efforts.
Still, the departure leaves a significant emotional gap for those who cared for the animals daily. Panda keeper Delphine Pouvreau described the moment as “very hard” for the staff. “We experienced the first birth of a baby panda in France here,” she said, adding that the memories created with the beloved animals will stay “engraved in our hearts.”
The return of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi also comes at a time when the global giant panda population has shown modest but encouraging signs of recovery. Last year, pandas were downgraded from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global list of threatened species. China’s conservation programs—bolstered by international partnerships like the one with Beauval Zoo—have played a central role in this progress.
Panda diplomacy itself is a decades-old tradition that dates back to 1972, when China gifted a pair of pandas to the United States following President Richard Nixon’s historic visit. Today, more than 20 zoos around the world host pandas on loan from China, symbolizing Beijing’s cultural outreach and diplomatic goodwill.
As France says goodbye to its cherished pandas, the anticipation of new arrivals ensures that the relationship—and the fascination—will continue. For now, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi depart as icons of international friendship, leaving behind a legacy of conservation, joy, and enduring affection.