PETALING JAYA - After 11 unforgettable years in Malaysia, beloved giant pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi will bid farewell on May 18 as they return to China.

According to official notices, the pair will leave Zoo Negara at 6.30am and head to the Animal Hotel at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) secretary-general Dr Ching Thoo A/L Kim, and Wildlife and National Parks Department director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, will be attending a send-off ceremony.

The ceremony is expected to conclude at around 11am, after which Fu Wa and Feng Yi will depart for their homeland, marking the end of their Malaysian chapter and the start of a peaceful retirement in China.

Their departure has left many local panda enthusiasts heartbroken. Zoo Negara confirmed that there will be no public farewell event.

Currently, visitors can only see the pandas through a glass viewing area in their indoor enclosure and say their quiet goodbyes.

On April 19, the ministry officially announced that Fu Wa and Feng Yi had been placed in isolation for a month in preparation for their return.

The abrupt move, without prior notice, left many fans frustrated, as they were unable to properly bid farewell to the beloved duo.

Fu Wa and Feng Yi first arrived in Malaysia on May 21 2014, under China’s giant panda loan programme, a diplomatic gesture celebrating the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China relations.

Upon their arrival, they were given new names: Fu Wa became Xing Xing (“prosperity”) and Feng Yi became Liang Liang (“pretty”).

Few could have predicted just how adored they would become.

In their first year alone, Zoo Negara’s visitor numbers surged by 60 per cent, with over 1.2 million people coming to watch the gentle giants munch bamboo or playfully tumble in their enclosure.

They quickly became social media sensations, winning hearts both locally and abroad.

“The pandas have drawn visitors from all over, especially from China, India, Indonesia, and the Middle East,” said Zoo Negara deputy president Datuk Rosly @ Rahmat Ahmat Lana.

During their stay, the pair made history by producing three cubs: Nuan Nuan (born Aug 18, 2015), Yi Yi (Jan 14, 2018) and Sheng Yi (May 31, 2021).

Remarkably, Sheng Yi’s birthday coincides with the anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.

As Malaysia bids farewell to the two gentle giants, the country is preparing to we...