On December 5, Beijing time, the giant pandas "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" in the UK successfully arrived in Chengdu and returned to the embrace of the motherland.
The giant panda departs for home
"We will miss you".
It's time to say goodbye! Bon voyage! A few days ago, the Edinburgh Zoo in the United Kingdom posted on its official website, saying goodbye to the male giant panda "Sunshine" and the female giant panda "Tian Tian", who have lived there for 12 years.
Screenshot of Edinburgh Zoo's official website.
After learning that the only pair of giant pandas in the UK will be returning to China, local people and tourists have braved the cold to go to the zoo to say goodbye to them for several days.
Andy McKellen, 53, took a three-hour train ride from Warrington, Cheshire, to the zoo. "I've loved pandas since I was a kid. When they arrived at the zoo, I was one of the first visitors to buy tickets to see them. ”
Lauren Darling also took her 7-year-old "giant panda fan" son to say goodbye to the giant panda. "We're flying in, and it's crazy," she said. But we have to come. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ”
Many foreign netizens also posted on social **, expressing their reluctance to the two giant pandas, "We will miss you!" "It's sad to see them leave, but thankfully I've seen them many times in the last 12 years. ”
Screenshot of social **.
Compared with people's reluctance, "Sunshine" and "Sweetness" seem to be quite calm, showing the demeanor of big stars as always. The British Daily Telegraph joked in its report that if the pandas are deep down nervous about a long journey, they hide themselves well, and they still roll, walk and snooze as if nothing happened in front of the swarming tourists.
On November 30, Edinburgh Zoo said in a statement that "giant pandas 'Sunshine' and 'Tiantian' have helped connect millions of people with nature, while raising vital funds for wildlife conservation efforts." Taking care of them for 12 years is incredible. *Screenshot of Edinburgh Zoo Social**
Simon Gilling, head of veterinary services at the Royal Scottish Zoological Society (RZSS), lamented that "pandas are very popular with staff and visitors. I've been with them for the past 12 years. We all felt sad to see them leave. They're really cute. ”
Ben Sapoor, an executive at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "Sunshine and Sweetness have made an amazing contribution by giving millions of people the opportunity to learn about nature. Now that they're leaving, it's going to be a little sad. But we are fortunate to have had 'sunshine' and 'sweetness' at one time, which will be our fond memory. ”
The whole of the UK is looking forward to it
They were once "rock stars".
The clock is set back to 2011. In the same year, China and the UK officially signed a 10-year cooperation agreement on giant panda conservation and research (later, during the epidemic, the lease period was extended). The news that "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" will live at Edinburgh Zoo as "friendship messengers" immediately caused a sensation in the local area.
This is the first time in 17 years that giant pandas have traveled to the UK, and the joy and excitement of the people are beyond words. Edinburgh Zoo is also buzzing with joy and has spent a lot of money to build a new home for Sunshine and Sweet – a bamboo forest, a small cave for sleeping, shelves for climbing, and a paddling pool to help keep the pandas cool.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland also revealed at the time, "We have prepared six kinds of bamboo that they like to eat, and now people all over the UK are eagerly awaiting their arrival." Edinburgh Zoo is able to receive around 7,000 visitors a day, and the first week of bookings is now full. ”
On December 6, 2011, the sun was warm in Edinburgh, which had just experienced the first snow of winter. When the truck in which the pandas were riding slowly arrived at the entrance of the zoo, the scene boiled.
Many people spontaneously stood on both sides of the road and welcomed them. Costumed Scottish bagpipers played a welcome song, and children waved Chinese and British flags, their faces full of excitement and anticipation.
As the BBC reported that "'Sunshine' and 'Tiantian' traveled all the way to Edinburgh Zoo on a special plane and were welcomed like rock stars." ”
Welcome home
"Celebrate the New Year together".
Giant pandas Tian Tian and Sunshine have been popular stars at Edinburgh Zoo for years.
Their arrival attracted tens of thousands of visitors, greatly increased the zoo's ticket revenue, and the well-known local ** people and student choir also collaborated on the "Panda Suite" for them to commemorate it.
The giant panda "Tian Tian" was also selected as the "Woman of the Year" by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and became the focus of the report.
Regarding the high "panda fever", Valentine, the head of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, pointed out that the pandas' ability to attract tourists was "unexpected" and "more endearing than expected".
However, to the regret of some local people, "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" failed to give birth to cubs during their stay in the UK. The zoo has tried several times to impregnate Tian Tian through natural mating or artificial insemination, but has been unsuccessful.
Now, with the expiration of the cooperation agreement signed between China and the UK, the two giant pandas have also ended their "business trip" life.
After more than 10 years of absence from the motherland, today, "Sunshine" and "Tiantian" have finally set foot on their homeland again. Many Chinese netizens posted a message of welcome.
Leave your blessings in the comment area, and we welcome the giant pandas home together!
Welcome home
Eat well, drink well, sleep well
Reunion for the New Year".
Screenshot of social **.
**: China News Network