(ECNS) -- Crowds gathered Tuesday at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens to see giant panda twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei ahead of their planned return to China in late January.
The zoo said it began restricting access to the panda enclosure Tuesday, with long lines forming more than an hour before opening. Visitors were admitted in batches, each given about one minute to view the animals. The zoo estimates about 178,000 visitors will attend between Dec. 16 and the final viewing day on Jan. 25.
"For us, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are the first twin giant pandas born at the zoo," said curator Hitoshi Suzuki. "Raising them was not easy, but they brought great joy to staff and visitors."
Visitors also purchased souvenirs at the zoo's gift shops as keepsakes.
Some visitors said they were reluctant to see the pandas leave but wished them well on their return to China. "If possible, I would like them to stay," one visitor said. "But China is their homeland, and I hope they will thrive there."
The zoo will promote other animals to make up for the absence of the pandas, while waiting for their replacements.
Xiao Xiao and his sister Lei Lei were born at the zoo in 2021. Their parents Shin Shin and Ri Ri returned home last year.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
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