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OFFICIALS today bid farewell to giant pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi in a ceremonial send-off held at the Animal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), marking the end of a decade-long conservation partnership with China.
The pair had been loaned to Malaysia since 2014 under a giant panda conservation agreement signed in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
“The presence of the pandas not only strengthened diplomatic ties but also contributed to public awareness on the importance of protecting endangered species,” said a representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES).
The couple’s three offspring — Nuan Nuan, Yi Yi and Sheng Yi — were previously returned to China, with Nuan Nuan departing on 14 November 2017, and Yi Yi and Sheng Yi following on 29 August 2023.
The departure of Fu Wa and Feng Yi marks a significant chapter in Malaysia’s role in global conservation efforts and its ongoing cooperation with China.
Present at the send-off were Datuk Dr Ching Thoo Kim, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, who represented the Malaysian government, along with Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, Director-General of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), and Norsham Abdul Latip, Deputy Secretary-General (Natural Resources) of the same ministry. - May 18, 2025
