A zoo in Finland will send two giant pandas back to China eight years earlier than planned because it can no longer afford to care for them, according to reports from the BBC.
The pandas, named Lumi and Pyry, arrived in Finland in 2018 as part of an agreement to protect them, with plans for them to stay for 15 years. However, they will now return in November due to rising costs linked to inflation and debts from the COVID pandemic.
The zoo, Ähtäri Zoo, has been spending about €1.5 million (around £1.2 million) each year to take care of the pandas, which is significantly more than what it spends on all other animals combined.
This amount includes the salary for a keeper who must be with the pandas all the time, fees paid to China, and costs for imported bamboo.
Mahrko Haekosky, the zoo’s curator, expressed disappointment about the situation, noting that while the pandas were expensive to maintain, they had been thriving and were enjoyable to work with. Last year, the Finnish government denied requests for financial support for the pandas, leading the zoo to rethink their future.
Before they return to China, Lumi and Pyry will go through a month-long quarantine. A spokesperson for Finland’s foreign ministry clarified that this decision was made by the zoo and did not involve the government, and they believe it won’t affect Finland’s relationship with China.
The Chinese embassy also confirmed that while they tried to assist the zoo, a mutual decision was reached regarding the pandas’ return.
This situation highlights the economic challenges faced by zoos and how financial realities can impact wildlife conservation efforts.
China often sends pandas to foreign zoos as a way to strengthen international relations, a practice known as “panda diplomacy.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0z289ervmo