Panda leaves Memphis Zoo for return to China.

Memphis Zoo bid farewell to giant panda Ya Ya during a farewell party ahead of her departure back to China after a 20-year loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens. Ya Ya was joined in Memphis under the loan agreement by Le Le, a male panda who died in February ahead of the pair’s planned return to China. The pandas were key to research and conservation projects and helped people experience some of Chinese culture.