The return to China of a giant female panda at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo will be pushed back until the end of May next year amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike announced Thursday.
An agreement to postpone the return of the panda named Xiang Xiang, which was set for the end of this month, has been reached between the Tokyo metropolitan government and Chinese authorities.
"International logistics and human exchanges have been restricted due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, so we have made a comprehensive conclusion," Koike said.
According to the Tokyo government and other sources, the number of flights between Japan and China has been drastically reduced during the pandemic, which has prevented the securing of a flight for the panda's transportation. In addition, as the two countries have imposed entry restrictions, it has been difficult for breeders to come and go between Japan and China. Sources said that they have not been able to implement a schedule that would see the 3-year-old panda returned before the deadline.
Xiang Xiang's father, Ri Ri, 15, and mother, Shin Shin, 15, were also due back next February, but a 5-year deadline extension has already been agreed upon.
Xiang Xiang was born in June 2017. She was originally scheduled to be returned to China in June 2019, when she became 2 years old, but the Tokyo government requested the Chinese side to postpone Xiang Xiang's return to the end of December.
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