Giant panda Ya Ya was recently handed over to the Chinese experts at Memphis Zoo as she wraps up her 20-year stay in the United States and prepares for her highly anticipated return to China.

China has now completed all preparations for her return, and two Chinese experts will work with zoo officials to feed and care for Ya Ya till the end of April, when she is scheduled to depart, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Ya Ya was frequently spotted looking malnourished, with a drooping posture and a severe loss of fur. Her condition resulted in many netizens urging her speedy return to China.

Ya Ya was born at Beijing Zoo on August 3, 2000. In 2003, the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens signed a joint conservation and research project with Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, agreeing to loan Ya Ya and a male panda named Le Le from Shanghai Zoo for a period of ten years.

The pair left China on April 7, 2003, to begin their 20-year stay overseas. Their arrival was warmly applauded by both officials and residents in Memphis, and Ya Ya appeared on the cover of Time magazine's kids edition in May of that year.

Memphis Zoo recorded the pandas' daily weight, food intake and the condition of their stool, and delivered a health report every month as well as an annual medical report to the Chinese side. The Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens also sent experts to Memphis to check on Ya Ya and Le Le's condition, and offer tips on how to raise them.

After the pair matured, the zoo tried to induce reproduction by means of natural propagation and artificial insemination every year. But despite their best efforts, Ya Ya was only impregnated twice and both times she aborted.

When the 10-year loan agreement expired, Memphis Zoo sought a ten-year extension, which was granted.

Starting in 2006, Ya Ya experienced a slight loss of fur – a condition that deteriorated from 2014. Both sides tried numerous treatments to little avail.

In July 2021, Ya Ya experienced a chronic loss of appetite and was reportedly always drowsy. As a result, she lost a considerable amount of weight.

At the end of 2022, Memphis Zoo confirmed it would return both pandas on schedule. But just two months later, 24-year-old Le Le died of heart disease.

Le Le's death and Ya Ya's poor condition raised panda lovers' anxiety and they clamored for her early return.

On March 16, 2023, Beijing Zoo sent staff to Memphis to familiarize themselves with Ya Ya's living habits and physical condition so as to get fully prepared for her return.

Memphis Zoo held a farewell party on April 8 and 500 panda lovers attended.

After returning to China, Ya Ya will spend a month in quarantine in Shanghai before taking up residence at her new home that is now being built in Beijing Zoo. Le Le's remains will be sent to Shanghai Zoo.