Wed Sep 25 04:33:43 UTC 2024: ## Finland to Return Giant Pandas to China Early Due to Financial Strain
**Helsinki, Finland** – Finland will be sending two giant pandas, Lumi and Pyry, back to China in November, eight years ahead of schedule, as the Ahtari Zoo, their home since 2018, can no longer afford their upkeep.
The zoo, a private company, invested over 8 million euros in the panda facility and faced annual costs of 1.5 million euros, including a preservation fee paid to China. While the zoo hoped the pandas would attract visitors, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in tourism and mounting debt. Rising inflation further exacerbated the situation.
The Finnish government rejected the zoo’s pleas for state funding in 2023, leading to the decision to return the animals. Negotiations with China lasted three years before reaching a consensus.
The return of the pandas is a business decision made solely by the zoo and is not expected to affect relations between Finland and China, according to a spokesperson for Finland’s foreign ministry. The Chinese embassy in Helsinki has not yet commented on the matter.
The pandas, originally brought to Finland in 2018 as part of a 15-year agreement, were a symbol of the strong relationship between the two countries. However, the financial burden of their upkeep proved unsustainable for the zoo. The pandas will undergo a month-long quarantine period before their return to China.
First Piper 