Japanese zoo to send four pandas back to China

(ECNS) -- All four giant pandasat Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture will return to China in late June, the park announced on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Rauhin along with her three daughters, 8-year-old Yuihin, 6-year-old Saihin and 4-year-old Fuhin, will leave for their new home at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The parksaid as a joint panda conservation project is set to expire in August, both parties have agreed to transfer the four pandas when the weather is relatively cool in order to minimize physical stress on them.

"It would be better for aging Rauhin to go to China to live in a dedicated facility with medical care. We hope that these four giant pandas can live a healthy and happy life after returning to China, and we also hope that the young ones can take on the mission of breeding new lives," the park said.

Aftertheir departure, the only remaining giant pandas in Japan will be Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei housed at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo.