2017 France Leased Panda Gives Birth
The giant panda 'Yuanmeng,' born in France, is returning to China for mating. Yuanmeng is gaining attention as one of the potential mates for Puba, a panda born domestically.
Chinese media Pengpai News reported on the 25th (local time) that according to the China-France panda cooperation research agreement, Yuanmeng, who lived at the Beauval Zoo in France, is scheduled to return to China.
On the morning of the same day at 9 a.m., Yuanmeng moved to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport by bus along with keepers and medical staff, and is expected to board an Air China flight to Chengdu, China, that evening.
Originally, Yuanmeng was scheduled to return to China last year, but the return was delayed once due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chinese government leased a pair of pandas, Huanhuan and Yuanzi, to France for 10 years in 2012. Huanhuan gave birth to twin pandas in August 2017, but the firstborn died within two hours. The surviving male twin is Yuanmeng.
Panda Puba, currently living at Everland in Yongin, is also expected to enter return negotiations with Chinese authorities soon. Yuanmeng is one of the male pandas considered as a potential mate for Puba.
The Chinese government has signed lease contracts stipulating that panda cubs born to pandas leased overseas must be returned to the mainland before the age of four. This is to help breed the endangered panda species.
Pandas reach maturity at around 3 to 4 years old; females can mate from 5 to 6 years old, and males from 6 to 7 years old. However, female pandas have a breeding season only once a year, lasting just 1 to 3 days in spring, making natural conception very challenging.
Puba, born in July 2020 to female panda Aibao and male panda Lebao, recently celebrated his third birthday.
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