In brief
At Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, nearly 100 visitors gathered on Friday for a bittersweet ceremony to send off Lang Yue, born in the Netherlands in July 2024, to China. The farewell, punctuated by dragon and lion dances, underscored the friendship between the Netherlands and China, with Chinese charge‑d’affaires Zhang Yi calling pandas “envoys of friendship.” The event highlighted cooperation on panda conservation and cultural exchange while the panda’s caretakers reflected on her growth and the diplomatic value of the transfer.
On Friday morning, a vehicle carrying four‑year‑old giant panda Lang Yue slowly left Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, Netherlands, as a symbolic transfer to China. The farewell drew almost 100 visitors and echoed a story of friendship and conservation between the two nations.
Children in baseball caps and tiny flags bearing Lang Yue’s image assembled outside the panda house, where dragon and lion dancers performed behind ceremonial banners, and a message wishing the cub good luck was displayed on the departing vehicle.
Fresh‑man Freya, who had followed Lang Yue’s growth because her family bought annual zoo passes, tearfully said, “One day, I want to visit her in China.”
Zhang Yi, Chinese charge‑d’affaires ad interim at the embassy, described pandas as “envoys of friendship” and explained that cooperation on conservation reflects a shared commitment to protecting wildlife and biodiversity. He urged Dutch visitors to explore China, especially Sichuan, the giant panda’s native region.
Keeper Brenda van Ekeren, who has cared for the panda since birth, recalled, “She was very soft. She was curious and willing to approach, but still kept checking for her mother.” She added Lang Yue is more timid than her older sister Fan Xing, watching her mother before taking risks.
Zoo director Robin de Lange noted it was an emotional day for staff, yet he expressed relief that Lang Yue would aid panda conservation in China. He highlighted the two cubs as a testament to years of cooperation with Chinese counterparts.
The departure marks the second cub born to Wu Wen and Xing Ya, who arrived in the Netherlands in 2017, following Fan Xing’s transfer to China in September 2023. Lang Yue’s journey continues the exchange that has drawn Dutch and Chinese scientists together to learn and preserve a species that has become a global symbol of wildlife diplomacy.
