Overview
- Tokyo set January 25 as the final public viewing for ShaoShao and LeiLei and announced staged access: December 16–21 walk-up, December 23–January 12 online first‑come reservations, and January 14–25 by lottery.
- The handover would leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, as the Ueno pair are the country’s last remaining animals.
- The current agreement for joint breeding and research set a February 20, 2026 return deadline, with the transfer now scheduled roughly a month earlier.
- Tokyo sought an extension or a new loan but received no positive response, and China’s foreign ministry declined to commit to future loans, directing inquiries to the competent authority.
- Japan’s chief cabinet secretary expressed hope panda exchanges continue and noted multiple local governments and zoos have requested loans, while Tokyo officials said recent tensions have not altered the talks.