Zoo decides to return the pandas.
In the Ähtäri Zoo in Finland, there are two super cute giant pandas named Lumi and Pyry! They were special gifts from China to celebrate Finland’s 100th year of independence.
The pandas were loaned to the zoo and were supposed to stay until 2033, but guess what? The zoo is sending them back early! Why? Taking care of pandas costs a lot of money, and not enough people are visiting the zoo to help.
What problem is the zoo facing?
The Ähtäri Zoo in Finland has had a hard time lately. Fewer people are coming to the zoo because of the COVID-19 pandemic, problems between Russia and Ukraine, and other money troubles.
The zoo thought that having two adorable pandas, Lumi and Pyry, would bring in more visitors, but it didn’t work out. Taking care of pandas costs a lot of money each year, and the zoo was running out of it!
Sadly, the zoo couldn’t fix its money problems, so Lumi and Pyry will soon return to China.
Why does China loan out pandas?
Did you know China has a fantastic way of making friends? Instead of giving gifts, China lends pandas to other countries to show they want to be friends! This is called “panda diplomacy.”
The country lends pandas to other countries for about ten years, sometimes even longer! By sharing these cute, fluffy animals, China makes strong friendships and shows the world how awesome they are. Isn’t that fun?
