Pairi Daiza’s two giant pandas, Bao Di and Bao Mei, celebrated their fifth and final birthday in Belgium on Thursday.
In autumn, the twins and their older brother will return to China. The Chinese Ambassador in Belgium, Fei Shengchao, attended the pandas’ birthday party.
"They are returning to China, but collaboration with Belgium will continue," confirmed Shengchao. A precise leaving date from Pairi Daiza is not yet confirmed, but it is expected to be sometime in the autumn.
Over a decade ago, Hao Hao and Xing Hui – the future parents of Tian Bao, Bao Di and Bao Mei – arrived in Belgium. Shengchao cited the longstanding partnership with Belgium as "successful", noting the increase in wild panda population, from 1,200 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900 now.
The act of China sending giant pandas to other countries is sometimes called ‘panda diplomacy’. Nearly all the pandas in the world are owned by China and are leased to foreign zoos with all cubs eventually returned to China.
Credit: Belga
Regarding this, Shengchao stated in a video interview with Belga: "We never consciously pursued panda diplomacy. But the more we interact, the better we understand each other, the more trust we can build."
Soon, Pairi Daiza will only be home to two pandas, instead of the current five. Keeper Robin Bouttefeux expressed sadness over their departure but pride in the work done: "We are sad they are leaving. I remember baby pandas weighing 160 and 170 grams. Now we still call them “our little ones”, but they each weigh 120 kilos. We’ve done our job well."
For their last birthday in the park, the pandas received a giant panda cake made of rice, corn, eggs, etc. The keepers also spoiled them with carrots and melon.
