HELSINKI: The Finnish Ahtari Zoo announced Monday evening that two giant pandas living in the zoo would return to China later this year, reported Xinhua.
The pandas have been living in the zoo since 2018, arriving under a 15-year research agreement for species preservation. The zoo has faced financial difficulties in recent years, according to local media reports.
Risto Sivonen, the chair of the board of the zoo, said that their resources were insufficient to continue as a partner in this unique preservation programme. The zoo expressed its intention to pursue debt restructuring on Monday.
Ahtari is located in west central Finland. The zoo is the main attraction of the small city.
