Green Group discussion

We've discussed pandas under the Endangered Species thread, but I recently heard that they are no longer classified as endangered.
This seems strange for a creature that only functionally lives in a restricted mountainous area of one country.
However, it would argue for good stewardship at various zoos.
China only lends out pandas to zoos, and any cubs born belong to China.

https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_fo...

"Step away from extinction
Great news! Giant pandas are no longer classified as 'endangered'. They've been downgraded to 'vulnerable' on the global list of species at risk of extinction after their population increased by 17% in a decade. It shows that conservation efforts are working and provides hope for the world's other threatened wildlife."

Many thanks to Kazuko Nishimura who writes a delightful and thoughtful piece about the panda today.


"A Conversation at Ueno Zoo

Xiao Xiao:
Lei Lei… have you packed your bamboo snacks? They say we are leaving at the end of January.
Lei Lei:
Leaving? But… why? We were born here. Tokyo is home. Ueno is home. We are literally on biscuits, cakes, keychains, socks, umbrellas, and that slightly terrifying giant statue outside the station. How can they send us away?
Xiao Xiao:
Because, my dear sister, we are not legally Japanese. We are not even dual citizens. We are… property.
Lei Lei:
Property of whom?
Xiao Xiao:
China.
All pandas, everywhere in the world — even those born abroad — are legally owned by China. It is written into every loan agreement. We are basically the world’s cutest diplomatic assets.
Lei Lei:
So even if we were born in Tokyo, raised in Tokyo, adored in Tokyo, and immortalised in pastry form in Tokyo… we still belong to China?
Xiao Xiao:
Exactly. International law is a mysterious thing. You can be born in a country, become the face of an entire neighbourhood, boost tourism, inspire merchandise sales, and still be recalled like a library book.
Lei Lei:
That explains why everyone looks so sad. I saw people queueing for hours just to wave at us. And the shopkeepers… they looked devastated.
Xiao Xiao:
Of course they are. We are the last pandas in Japan. When we leave, Ueno loses more than two furry celebrities. It loses foot traffic, souvenir sales, and a chunk of its identity. Pandas are woven into the district’s fabric — from the station signs to the themed cafés. Removing us is like removing the Eiffel Tower from Paris, except fluffier.
Lei Lei:
But why now?
Xiao Xiao:
Our loan period is ending. And when a panda loan ends, China always recalls the pandas — especially the cubs. It is part of the global breeding and conservation programme. Also… let us say the political climate has not exactly been “bamboo and sunshine” lately.
Lei Lei:
So we are victims of geopolitics?
Xiao Xiao:
We prefer the term “soft‑power ambassadors”. It sounds more dignified.

1. Pandas are never “given” — they are loaned
Since the 1980s, China has stopped gifting pandas and instead leases them to foreign zoos. The standard contract:
A ten‑year loan
A fee of around £700,000 per year
All cubs born abroad must be returned to China
This ensures China retains full genetic control of the species.
2. Panda loans are diplomatic tools
China uses pandas to signal goodwill, strengthen ties, or — occasionally — express displeasure.
When relations warm, pandas appear.
When relations cool, pandas quietly go home.
3. Japan’s situation is particularly symbolic
Ueno Zoo received its first pandas in 1972, the year China and Japan normalised relations. For half a century, pandas have been a symbol of friendship.
Their sudden absence in 2026 feels like a diplomatic temperature check — and the reading is chilly.
4. The economic impact is real
Ueno’s entire micro‑economy is panda‑themed.
Shops sell panda pastries
Cafés serve panda lattes
Streets are decorated with panda banners
Tourists come specifically for pandas
With Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei gone, the district expects a drop in visitors, sales, and general panda‑powered enthusiasm.

Panda diplomacy is a reminder that soft power is not always soft. It is strategic, symbolic, and occasionally heartbreaking — especially for the people (and pandas) caught in the middle.
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei may be leaving Tokyo, but their story is a perfect lens through which to explore how nations negotiate identity, influence, and affection.
And perhaps, one day, when the political winds shift, Ueno will once again welcome a pair of black‑and‑white ambassadors.
Until then, the panda‑shaped biscuits will have to carry the torch."

Covers for illustration purposes.

As you see, pandas are a popular theme! I draw your attention to:

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal