Finnish Zoo to Return Giant Pandas to China Due to Financial Strain

Ähtäri Zoo cites declining visitors, pandemic impact, and rising costs as reasons for sending pandas back eight years early.

The private Ähtäri Zoo in Finland will return two giant pandas, Lumi and Pyry, to China later this year, eight years ahead of schedule.
The decision stems from financial difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The zoo had hoped the pandas would attract more visitors but faced mounting debts and an annual upkeep cost of €1.5 million.
Efforts by the Chinese government to assist, including encouraging donations from Chinese companies in Finland, were insufficient.
The pandas will enter a month-long quarantine in late October before being transported back to China.