A zoo in Tokyo is struggling to cope with unprecedented crowds as visitors flood in to see Japan’s last remaining giant pandas before they leave the country.
Earlier this week, Ueno Zoo announced that its twin pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, will be returned to China in late January under a long-standing panda loan and breeding agreement. The news sparked an immediate surge in visitors eager to catch a final glimpse of the animals, who are the last pandas in Japan. Their departure will leave the country without any giant pandas for the first time in more than half a century.
Since the announcement, queues have stretched to more than four hours even on regular weekdays. With the zoo closing at 5 p.m., staff have been forced to stop accepting new visitors into the line early in the afternoon to manage the crowds. To keep the flow moving, the panda viewing area has been divided into sections, allowing each visitor roughly one minute to see the pandas, take a quick photo, and move on.
Although Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born in Japan, they remain the property of China, and all cubs produced under the agreement must eventually be returned once they reach maturity. Their final day of public viewing is scheduled for January 25, and until then, long lines are expected to continue as fans line up for a last chance to say goodbye.