Pandas depart Ähtäri Zoo for China after successful transport operation

The giant pandas that resided at the Ähtäri Zoo have returned to their homeland, China, according to information from the zoo. The zoo confirms that the pandas departed Ähtäri on Friday in a carefully planned and monitored transport. This operation was conducted in collaboration with various experts and authorities.

Reports indicate that despite snowy weather conditions, the journey went according to plan. The pandas arrived at their new home in China on Saturday afternoon, destined for a conservation center.

Health checks conducted on the pandas post-journey revealed that both Lumi and Pyry are in excellent condition. The zoo announced that the pandas will continue to participate in international conservation efforts focused on species preservation and scientific research.

The pandas were on loan from the Chinese government and had been at Ähtäri Zoo since 2018. In September of this year, the zoo announced plans to part ways with the pandas earlier than initially anticipated, a decision influenced by financial difficulties faced by the facility.

On Friday, the zoo confirmed that the transfer of the pandas to China had begun, while monitoring logistics were provided for the transport. Two trucks left Ähtäri Zoo in the afternoon and arrived at the cargo area of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport around 7 PM, one of which was marked for “animal transport.”