What kind of scene unfolds when China’s “national treasure” giant panda meets the Olympic torch relay? The panda “Yuan Zai (圆仔)” in France shows us that while he might not understand the significance of the torch, he prefers to observe the situation from a hidden spot.
This amusing incident took place on the 8th during the Olympic torch relay. That day, the torch was passed in the Loir-et-Cher department, starting at the famous Beauval Zoo. This zoo is the first and only one in France with giant pandas, with “Huan Huan (欢欢)” and “Yuan Zai” arriving in 2012, marking a new chapter in Franco-Chinese panda cooperation.
The zoo’s director, Rodolphe Delord, was the first torchbearer of the day. According to the plan, he was to hand over the torch to the second bearer, Maud Fontenoy, in front of panda “Yuan Zai.”
While Fontenoy waited with the torch, “Yuan Zai” was calmly munching on bamboo. However, when Delord approached with the torch, “Yuan Zai,” sensing something unusual, dropped the bamboo and ran to a hidden spot to observe from a distance. Despite the keepers’ attempts to coax him out, he refused to participate in this historic moment, much to the amusement of the onlookers.
“This is the nature of animals; giant pandas do as they please. Yet, such moments are always very touching. We saw their twins this morning, but they weren’t fully awake and not very active,” Delord remarked, somewhat resigned but understanding of “Yuan Zai’s” reaction.
“Carrying the torch at Beauval Zoo is a tremendous honor and a moment of great significance. The Olympic torch symbolizes peace and friendship, and the giant pandas here also represent the peace and friendship between China and France, especially in this special year marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Delord proudly stated.
Delord explained that the connection between China and France regarding giant pandas dates back over a hundred years. It was French missionary Armand David who scientifically “discovered” the giant panda during his exploration in Sichuan in 1869.
Since “Huan Huan” and “Yuan Zai” arrived at Beauval Zoo, they have had three offspring: “Yuan Meng” in 2017 and female twins “Huan Li Li” and “Yuan Du Du” in 2021, making them the stars of the zoo. Delord mentioned that since welcoming the giant pandas in 2012, the zoo’s annual visitor numbers have increased from 600,000 to 2 million, with the increased revenue helping to better protect the zoo’s animals.
In 2023, “Yuan Meng,” nearing six years old, was sent back to China to avoid inbreeding. Delord shared that he visited “Yuan Meng” during his trip to China in February this year.
The names of the twins who stayed with their parents, “Huan Li Li” and “Yuan Du Du,” were chosen by over 100,000 online voters. “Huan Li Li” derives “Huan” from their mother “Huan Huan” and “Li” from Paris, the capital of France. “Yuan Du Du” takes “Yuan” from their father “Yuan Zai” and “Du Du” from Chengdu. Notably, French football star Kylian Mbappé and Chinese diving Olympic champion Zhang Jiaqi attended the naming ceremony, becoming the “namers” of the twins. “Huan Li Li” and “Yuan Du Du” have been linked to sports since birth.
“Sports have a unique unifying power. I believe that through sports, the friendship between France and China can be strengthened, and this friendship is solid and enduring. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, we need to make this friendship even stronger,” Delord said.
