Overview
- Tokyo officials announced that twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will depart Ueno Zoo for China in late January 2026, ahead of a February lease deadline.
- Their final public viewing is set for Jan. 25, with Ueno Zoo restricting viewing to about one minute, adding online reservations next week, and using a lottery for the last 12 days.
- Tokyo sought an extension to keep the pandas, but Chinese authorities did not agree and no replacement loan has been secured.
- A Tokyo metropolitan official said there is currently no agreement for new pandas, and China’s Foreign Ministry referred extension queries to “competent authorities.”
- The timing underscores frayed relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks, and crowds have surged to bid farewell to the 4-year-old twins.