A bittersweet departure: Pandas return to China from Zoo Atlanta after more than 20 years

Over the weekend, Zoo Atlanta gave a bittersweet goodbye to its black and white bear icons.

Giant pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang as well as their daughters Ya Lun and Xi Lun were returned to Chengdu as part of an agreement between the zoo and China. Lun Lun and Yang Yang first came to Georgia in 1999 and their daughters were born here in 2016.

The trip involved a dedicated Boeing 777 called the "FedEx Panda Express." It included three zoo members, more than 300 pounds of bamboo, around 10 pounds of fresh produce, 6 gallons of water, and 20 pounds of leafeater biscuits. They flew out Saturday morning and landed on Sunday.

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Zoo Atlanta further sent them out in style earlier this month with the Panda Palooza. More than 9,000 guests came out to say farewell, creating messages, signing "thank you" cards for the Panda Care Team, and other celebratory activities.

“The pandas have made their own distinct mark on the cultural fabric of the city of Atlanta," said the zoo's President and CEO Raymond King. "Their departure is not only bittersweet for Zoo Atlanta and the Panda Care Team, but also for everyone who has had the opportunity to get to know and learn from the pandas over the years. We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our giant panda program and of our commitment to our international partners who are helping us save this species.”

Lun Lun and Yang Yang had other cubs born in Atlanta over the years including Mei Lan in 2006, Xi Lan in 2008, Po in 2010, and twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan in 2013. The whole family is at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

For more information about the pandas' journey, go to zooatlanta.org/news-stories/ .

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: A bittersweet departure: Pandas return to China from Zoo Atlanta after more than 20 years