In brief
Lang Yue, born in July 2024, was transported from Ouwehands Zoo to China on 30 October 2026 after a bittersweet ceremony featuring dragon and lion dances. The event highlighted historic cooperation between the Netherlands and China on panda conservation and invited Dutch visitors to explore Sichuan. Zoo staff recalled the bear’s shy personality and the emotional impact of her departure.
On Friday morning, 30 October 2026, a vehicle carrying the four‑year‑old panda Lang Yue slowly left Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, Netherlands, after a farewell ceremony that drew nearly 100 people, among them young fans who had watched the cub grow.
Children wearing baseball caps waved flags with Lang Yue’s image, while dragon and lion dancers performed outside the Chinese‑style enclosure. A sign on the departing vehicle wished the panda good luck as she headed for her new home in China.
Freya, a visitor who had bought yearly passes to view the panda, tearfully said, “One day, I want to visit her in China.” Her friend and fellow passenger echoed the sentiment.
Zhang Yi, the charge d’affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, said that giant pandas serve as “envoys of friendship” between the two nations, and added that the move underlines shared commitments to wildlife protection and biodiversity. He invited Dutch visitors to explore Sichuan, the traditional panda habitat in China.
Birder status and background of Lang Yue: she was born in July 2024 to parents Wu Wen and Xing Ya, who arrived in the Netherlands in 2017. Her older sister, Fan Xing, was born in May 2020 and was transferred to China in September 2023.
Keeper Brenda van Ekeren, who has tended to Lang Yue since birth, recalled the cub’s soft and curious nature. She noted that Lang Yue is more timid than her sister, usually watching her mother before trying new things, but once reassured she becomes playful and eager to explore.
Zoo Director Robin de Lange described the day as emotional for staff. He said he was nonetheless pleased that Lang Yue would ‘help with the conservation of giant pandas in China’ and proud of the zoo’s role in successfully raising two cubs.
The transfer follows years of cooperation between Dutch and Chinese staff. Van Ekeren has visited China multiple times to learn from keepers, veterinarians and managers, strengthening the collaboration that made this departure possible.
