A zoo in Japan has been forced to impose strict viewing limits as massive crowds queue to see Japan’s last remaining giant pandas before they leave the country.
Ueno Zoo in Tokyo confirmed earlier this week that twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will be returned to China in late January, triggering an immediate surge in visitors hoping to catch one final glimpse. The pair are the final pandas in Japan, and their departure will leave the country without any for the first time in more than 50 years.
Since the announcement, visitors have queued for over four hours on regular weekdays, and with the zoo closing at 5 p.m, staff have been forced to stop accepting new visitors to the line early in the afternoon.
Tokyo Zoo has four hour queue to see pandas
To help quell the influx of people and manage the long wait times, staff have even gone as far as to impose strict one-minute per person viewing sessions. This gives visitors a brief window where they hopefully see the pandas, take a quick picture, and then make room for the next eager person.
As for why the pandas are leaving, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born in Japan but remain the property of China under a long-standing panda loan and breeding agreement. Under the terms of that arrangement, all cubs must eventually be transferred back to China once they reach maturity.
Their final day of public viewing is scheduled for January 25. Until then, long queues and tightly controlled viewing windows are expected to continue as fans line up for a last chance to say goodbye.
