In brief
A vehicle carrying the panda left Ouwehands Zoo on Oct. 30, 2026, amid a bittersweet farewell with nearly 100 attendees. The event highlighted friendship between the Netherlands and China, with embassy officials urging Dutch visitors to see Sichuan. Lang Yue is the second cub born to the pair Wu Wen and Xing Ya, who arrived from China in 2017.
A vehicle carrying the 4‑year‑old giant panda Lang Yue pulled away from Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen on Friday morning, October 30, 2026, symbolizing the panda’s transfer from the Netherlands to China. The departure followed a farewell ceremony attended by nearly 100 visitors, including young fans, zoo staff, and diplomatic representatives.
Children stood in front of the Chinese‑style panda house wearing baseball caps and waving flags adorned with Lang Yue’s image. Dragon and lion dances accompanied the event, while a message on the departing vehicle wished the panda good luck.
"Giant pandas are envoys of friendship between the two countries," said Zhang Yi, charge d’affaires ad interim at the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands. Zhang Yi added that cooperation on panda conservation reflects shared commitments to protecting wildlife and preserving biodiversity. He invited Dutch visitors to explore China, especially Sichuan, the habitat of wild giant pandas.
"She was very soft," recalled Brenda van Ekeren, the keeper who has cared for Lang Yue since birth. Brenda van Ekeren noted that the cub is more timid than her older sister, but becomes playful once reassured. She remembered the moment they first met Lang Yue, who would watch her mother before attempting new things.
Lang Yue, born in July 2024, is the second cub of the pair Wu Wen and Xing Ya, who arrived in the Netherlands in 2017 from China. Their first cub, Fan Xing, was born in May 2020 and was transferred to China in September 2023.
The zoo director, Robin de Lange, described the day as emotional for staff but also proud, as the zoo has successfully raised two cubs and benefited from years of cooperation with Chinese colleagues. He expressed hope that Lang Yue would contribute to giant‑panda conservation efforts in China.
