Giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni bid farewell to Adelaide Zoo on Saturday after 15 years in Australia, as locals gathered to say goodbye before their return to China.
Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni have been living at Adelaide Zoo since 2009 as part of a Sino-Australian giant panda conservation and research collaboration. During their stay, the pair became the zoo’s most iconic residents, attracting flocks of global visitors every year.
Local fans expressed deep emotions during their send-off.
"I will miss them so much. It feels like family leaving," said one visitor. "I hope they will be happy back in their homeland," said a tourist.
To commemorate the pandas' departure, Adelaide Zoo set up a special panda mailbox where visitors could leave messages for Wang Wang and Fu Ni. In less than a month, over 1,000 letters of good wishes were collected, with some to accompany the pandas on their journey home.
While Wang Wang and Fu Ni's departure marks the end of a long journey, the partnership between China and Australia on panda conservation continues. At the end of this year, a new pair of giant pandas, Yi Lan and Xing Qiu, will arrive at Adelaide Zoo to carry on the country's panda story.
Beloved giant pandas depart Australia for China after 15-year stay at Adelaide Zoo
