Through an agreement between China and the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada, the two giant pandas, Da Mao and Er Shun, were originally scheduled to go back to China in 2023. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, it is difficult to transport enough fresh bamboo Canada, therefore they must return the two giant pandas "Ershun" and "Da Mao" to their hometowns in China, two years early
The staff at the Calgary Zoo said that the giant pandas "Ershun" and "Da Mao" only eat fresh bamboo and because of COVID-19, the zoo is unable to get fresh bamboo transported twice a week on commercial flights.
They are slightly older or a little older during transportation, and they will not eat them.
The zoo announced this news on Twitter:
“Today we announced that we will return the giant pandas "Ershun" and "Da Mao" to their hometown, China, which is rich in bamboo.”
In this way, most foreign citizens present a style of "the truth is understood, but I still can't bear it."
Some citizens questioned and said, "Can't you buy bamboo in the United States where there are pandas?"
The zoo responded to this. “We have worked hard with suppliers across North America, but the disruption of the transportation network has caused the supply chain to become extremely fragile.”
The Canadian people have a deep feeling for Da Mao and Ershun, After all, everyone has been visiting with them for a long time.
In 2013, the two pandas that China leased to Canada-"Da Mao" and "Er Shun" arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport by "special plane."
At that time, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Chinese Ambassador to Canada, and the Governor of Ontario, Canada, and the Mayor of Toronto, all formed a team to greet the scene.
Canadian Prime Minister Harper personally "signed for" these two cute girls and joked that the experience was "too amazing", "You don't have the opportunity to sign for a panda every day!"
The city of Toronto matched nearly two million Canadian dollars for luxury homes for these two VIPs, and regularly transported bamboo from the United States to ensure the pandas are rich in food.
The Toronto Zoo had not hosted pandas for nearly thirty years since 1985. In 1985, the pandas lived only a few months. At that time, the zoo staff said they thought the pandas would attract 300,000 to 500,000 more tourists to visit the zoo. So, the pandas were considered to be "cash trees"!
In 2015, "Big Hair" and "Ershun" gave birth to two red pandas. The Canadian media even used headlines to report the incident and called it a "historic moment."
In the end, the two little guys were named "Gapanpan" (Canada hope Jia Panpan) and "Ga Yueyue" (Canada Joy Jiayue).
After giving birth to two little guys, Da Mao and Ershun moved to the current Calgary Zoo in 2018. "Gapanpan" and "Ga Yueyue" will also be returned to China later this year.
Ckement Lanthier, the director of the Calgary Zoo, said they were applying to the government in Canada and China to speed up the approval process and return the pandas as soon as possible.
I wish Damao and Ershun are happy wherever you are.
