Malaysia Bids Tearful Farewell To Panda Cubs Yi Yi And Sheng Yi”

29-8-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysians bid an emotional farewell to two panda cubs, Yi Yi and Sheng Yi, on Tuesday, as authorities prepared to send them to China after years of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Born in 2018 and 2021 respectively, the female pandas were set to be transported as part of an agreement between Malaysia and China, which stipulated sending cubs born in captivity to China when they reach two years of age. Their parents, Xing Xing and Liang Liang, were loaned to Malaysia by China in 2014 for a decade to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations.

Panda enthusiasts gathered at Malaysia’s National Zoo to catch a final glimpse of the beloved cubs before their departure later in the day. 24-year-old photographer Cindy Lai, who frequented the zoo to watch the pandas, expressed her sadness at not being able to see the cubs again. “It is an emotional send-off,” she said. “I will definitely cry when they are loaded into the truck to be transported to the airport.”

Housewife Tracey Lee, who used to visit the pandas regularly to create TikTok videos, also teared up, saying, “I have been crying for many days at home. I will not be able to see them again.”