Helsinki, Finland – The decision to repatriate the two giant pandas, Lumi and Pyry, to China represents a new milestone for Ahtari Zoo in Finland. After welcoming the magnificent animals in January 2018, the zoo’s financial situation forced management to make a difficult choice.
The initial agreement called for a 15-year stay for the pandas in Finland, sealed during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the Nordic country. However, the zoo’s financial challenges led to an early decision to return the pandas to China.
Annual maintenance costs of €1.5 million, including a conservation tax paid to China, have put financial pressure on the zoo. Despite investing over €8 million in panda infrastructure, the pandemic has hampered attendance at the zoo, leading to a build-up of debt.
Negotiations surrounding the return of the pandas have lasted three years, highlighting the financial and logistical challenges the zoo has faced. The decision to return the pandas to China is primarily a business decision made by the zoo, and not one involving the Finnish government.
The return of the pandas is not expected to have any impact on Sino-Finnish relations, as the two countries agreed to the decision amicably after extensive consultations. Despite China’s efforts to support the zoo, the economic climate and rising costs have made the decision unavoidable.
Ultimately, the return of the pandas to China is a testament to the financial challenges zoos around the world face, particularly in the current economic climate. It also raises questions about the viability of long-term arrangements for exotic animals, highlighting the financial and logistical challenges that accompany such initiatives.