After 13 years of captivating visitors at France’s Beauval Zoo, the celebrated giant pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi embarked on their journey back to China on Tuesday. The pair, both 17 years old, were transported in specially designed white crates equipped with windows and breathing holes, departing from Paris’ Charles-de-Gaulle Airport on a 12-hour flight. Their return marks the end of a significant chapter in Franco-Chinese cultural exchange and panda diplomacy. Zoo director Rodolphe Delord, who bid farewell to the pandas during an emotional ceremony, emphasized that the aging duo requires specialized care, which will be provided at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, their birthplace. Huan Huan’s recent diagnosis of kidney failure, a common ailment for carnivores of her age, further necessitated their repatriation. French and Chinese veterinary teams collaborated to ensure their safe travel while their health permitted. The pandas gained immense popularity in France since their arrival in 2012, with Huan Huan giving birth to three cubs during their stay. Their firstborn, Yuan Meng, was sent to China in 2022, while their twin daughters, Huanlili and Yuandudu, remain at Beauval Zoo for now. The Chengdu facility will continue to leverage the couple’s legacy to raise awareness about panda conservation. With approximately 2,000 pandas in the wild and 500 in captivity globally, their return underscores ongoing efforts to protect this iconic species.