The Giant Pandas “Yuan Yuan” and “Yang Yang” Return Safely to China

According to the China-Austria Giant Panda International Cooperation Agreement, after friendly discussions between the two countries, the giant pandas “Yuan Yuan (园园)” and “Yang Yang (阳阳)” have safely returned to Chengdu today.

To ensure the smooth and safe return of the two pandas, a team of experienced Chinese experts was sent to Austria in advance. They participated in the care and feeding of the pandas, familiarizing themselves with their living habits and conditions. The Chinese team worked alongside Austrian experts, conducting behavior training, routine health checks, and assessments. The experts from both sides accompanied the pandas on their journey back to China. (How Do Overseas Giant Pandas Return to China?)

The Giant Pandas Yuan Yuan And Yang Yang Return Safely To China

Yuan Yuan is a male panda, with lineage number 488, born on August 23, 1999, at Beijing Zoo. In 2001, he traveled to Moscow Zoo in Russia, then moved to the Bifengxia Base in 2008. Yuan Yuan returned to Beijing Zoo in 2011 and moved to the Dujiangyan Base in 2015. On April 15, 2019, he began a four-year research collaboration in Austria, living at the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna.

Yang Yang is a female panda, with lineage number 514, born on August 10, 2000, at the Hetaoping Base of the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center. She arrived at Schönbrunn Zoo in Austria in 2003, where she has lived for over 20 years and gave birth to five offspring.

The return of “Yuan Yuan” and “Yang Yang” marks a significant milestone in China-Austria panda cooperation, as both pandas have contributed to scientific research and conservation efforts during their time abroad.