New giant pandas arrive at the Beauval Zoo, In France? The China Wildlife Conservation Association and the ZooParc de Beauval have signed a letter of intent to continue their cooperation on giant pandas after the repatriation of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi to China and the possible departure of twins Huanlili and Yuandudu in 2027.
Panda diplomacy in France, the touching farewell to Huan Huan and Yuan Zi
November 24, 2025 Pandas Huan Huan and Yuan Zi have left the ZooParc de Beauval to return to China, closing a chapter that began in 2012 with their arrival as the first giant pandas ever hosted in France. The pair, now a national icon, contributed significantly to Beauval's fame, attracting millions of visitors and allowing the park to fund wildlife conservation projects, but the female's health conditions prompted the partners to bring forward their return from the original 2027 contract expiration.
Since their arrival, the two pandas have had three cubs. The male Yuan Meng, born in 2017 and returned to China in 2024, and twins Huanlili and Yuandudu, born in 2021 and destined to remain in France until at least January 2027. Their future return is also foreseen within the general framework of the loan agreements, which aim to ensure genetic exchanges and coordinated management of the global giant panda population.
The letter of intent between CWCA and ZooParc de Beauval
Just days after the historic pair's return to China, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Beauval Director Rodolphe Delord signed a letter of intent to continue their cooperation on giant pandas beyond 2027. The document, sealed during a state visit to China by French President Emmanuel Macron, includes a willingness to negotiate a new ten-year loan agreement that includes the shipment of a new pair of pandas after the twins' repatriation.
The CWCA, currently the only body authorized to manage panda loans abroad, considers Beauval a key partner thanks to its experience in the care and reproduction of the species; renewing the collaboration would keep France among the select group of countries hosting giant pandas. While not yet a definitive agreement, the letter sends a strong signal of the political will of both governments to continue using pandas as tools of cultural and scientific diplomacy.
What it means for visitors and for conservation
For the French public, the possible arrival of a new pair after 2027 means that Beauval could remain a prime destination for seeing giant pandas up close, avoiding a prolonged "emptiness" following the twins' departure. From the park's perspective, the presence of these animals represents a huge economic boost: the years with the pandas have coincided with a sharp increase in visitors and revenue, which has been reinvested in international biodiversity protection projects.
In terms of conservation, the future loan would allow for the continuation of research programs on giant panda reproduction, behavior, and veterinary medicine in collaboration with Chinese centers, integrating data that also aids in the management of populations in the wild. The project's continuation also strengthens public awareness among the European public of the species' vulnerability and the link between panda conservation and the protection of Sichuan's mountain ecosystems.