A zoo in Finland is to return two large pandas to China eight years early, saying it might now not afford to take care of them.
Lumi and Pyry have been dropped at Finland in 2018, after the 2 nations signed an settlement to guard the animals.
They have been meant to remain within the Nordic nation for 15 years however will likely be despatched house in November – with Ähtäri Zoo blaming inflation and debt linked to the Covid pandemic as causes for the panda’s eviction.
It mentioned it had spent €1.5m (£1.2m) a yr on the pandas repairs, in addition to greater than €8m on their enclosure.
That annual value included a preservation payment to China, the zoo’s chairman mentioned.
One other issue within the determination to return the pandas was the Finnish authorities rejecting pleas for state funding final yr.
It was hoped the bears would usher in guests, however the zoo revealed final yr that it was discussing their return.
Lumi and Pyry will quickly go right into a month-long quarantine earlier than they’re shipped again to China.
A spokesperson for Finland’s overseas ministry mentioned the pandas’ return was a enterprise determination that didn’t contain the federal government, and that it shouldn’t affect relations between Finland and China.
Finland’s Chinese language embassy, in the meantime, advised the Reuters information company that whereas efforts had been made to try to assist the zoo, a be a part of determination was ultimately made to ship the animals again.
China sends pandas to overseas zoos to strengthen its buying and selling ties, relationships and picture overseas – termed ‘panda diplomacy’.
