Panda lovers bid farewell to four pandas in western Japan
Panda lovers are flocking to a theme park in western Japan to say goodbye to four giant pandas that will be returned to China soon.
About 1,400 people lined up at the gates of the park in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, ahead of opening time on Friday, the pandas' last day there.
They rushed to the facilities for the pandas as soon as the gates opened at 9:00 a.m.
The four female pandas -- Rauhin and her daughters Yuihin, Saihin and Fuhin -- have been part of a joint conservation project with China which is due to expire.
They will depart for China on Saturday.
Visitors were waiting in line for up to 90 minutes at the facility for Rauhin and Saihin, as of 10:00 a.m.
People were seen taking pictures of the pandas, calling out their names and waving at them.
One visitor said she wanted her children to see the pandas one last time. Another person said she hopes the pandas will stay healthy and will be looked after well in China.
The four pandas will leave Shirahama on Saturday, and return to a panda breeding center in Sichuan Province, China.
The only remaining giant pandas in Japan will be the two at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo.
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