Ya Ya - giant panda

Ya Ya the giant panda. Photo Panda Voices

Ya Ya, is a female giant panda who was born on August 3, 2000, in Beijing Zoo. She was loaned for a period of 20 years from the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens to the Memphis Zoo in the United States. Since 1972, China has been using pandas as a diplomatic tool to foster international relations, following a meeting between US President Richard Nixon and Chinese leader Mao Zedong. As a result of this meeting, China gifted the pandas Ling Ling and Xing Xing to the United States.

Another giant panda named Le Le was also part of the loan agreement with the Memphis Zoo, but tragically, Le Le passed away suddenly on February 1, 2023.

During Ya Ya's stay at the Memphis Zoo, concerns were raised by Panda Voices and In Defense of Animals, who advocated for the release of both Le Le and Ya Ya. They expressed worries about various issues, including insufficient bamboo, malnourishment, excessive caging time of over 10 hours, stereotypical behavior, distressed mental health, skin mite disease, and dental problems.

The loan agreement expired in April 2023, leading to Ya Ya's return to China on April 27, 2023. Following a month-long quarantine at the Shanghai Zoo, Ya Ya was subsequently transferred on China Southern Airlines' cargo plane CZ2489 to the Beijing Zoo on May 28, 2023.

See also

• Le Le - giant panda
• Panda diplomacy
• List of captive giant pandas

External links

• Panda Voices
• Panda Voices with Tom & Sarah All About Animals Radio Podcast
• Fate of ‘sick’ Chinese panda in US zoo exposes political tensions
• Chinese Anger Rises over 'Malnourished' Pandas in U.S. Zoo Newsweek