### Finnish Zoo to Return Giant Pandas to China Early Due to High Costs

Ähtäri Zoo in Finland has announced the early return of two giant pandas to China, citing financial pressures and a decrease in visitors. Initially planned to stay until 2033, the pandas, named Lumi and Pyry, will be returned to China later this year, more than eight years ahead of schedule.

The decision comes in light of multiple challenges faced by the zoo. Located 205 miles north of Helsinki, Ähtäri Zoo has seen a decline in visitor numbers due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, rising inflation and interest rates have further strained the zoo's resources.

The pandas arrived in Finland in January 2018 as a gift from China to celebrate Finland's 100 years of independence, marking the first time a Nordic nation received giant pandas. The loan agreement was finalized during an April 2017 visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he met with then-Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.

Àhtäri Zoo had high hopes for the pandas to attract more tourists and built a specialized Panda House costing approximately 8 million euros ($9 million). However, the annual upkeep for Lumi and Pyry, which includes a preservation fee to China and importing bamboo from the Netherlands, totals around 1.5 million euros—a financial burden the zoo can no longer sustain.

Beijing made efforts to assist the zoo by encouraging Chinese companies in Finland to donate and supporting debt arrangements. Despite these efforts, the zoo was unable to overcome its financial difficulties, exacerbated by the dramatic changes in the economic environment.

Preparations are underway to return the pandas, including a month-long quarantine starting in late October before their departure to China. Finland, with a population of 5.6 million, was one of the first Western countries to establish political ties with China in 1950. The return of the pandas marks a significant moment in the long-standing relationship between the two countries.