Why can’t we extend Le Le’s contract?’ Fans of Singapore’s first panda cub bemoan his return to China

Wearing custom T-shirts featuring Singapore’s giant pandas and panda-themed bucket hats, many fans gathered to celebrate Le Le’s second birthday on August 14. A passionate panda enthusiast, Ameila, who preferred not to share her last name, told AsiaOne that she purchased an annual pass to Mandai Wildlife Reserve specifically to visit the giant pandas regularly. The Friends of Wildlife membership starts at $195.

Ameila, 23, expressed her excitement about Le Le reaching this milestone, but it was bittersweet knowing he would soon return to China. In 2021, Mandai Wildlife Group announced that Le Le must return to China upon turning two, as stipulated in the original loan agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

While there is no confirmed date for Le Le’s departure, Mandai Wildlife Group indicated in a media release that he is becoming comfortable in his space, and his care team is collaborating with Chinese experts to prepare him for the next phase of his life.

Another fan, Harriet, also chose to attend the birthday celebration despite having to work later in the day. The 26-year-old, currently employed in Singapore, lamented Le Le’s impending move to China. “Le Le is already comfortable in Singapore. Why does he have to return to China? Why can’t we extend Le Le’s contract for him to stay in Singapore longer?” she questioned.

The panda care team went all out for Le Le’s birthday, serving him a bamboo cake alongside a buffet of treats, including sugarcane, sweet potato, grapes, and peaches presented on banana leaves and ice blocks. The festivities also featured presents filled with delicious bamboo and a playful confetti of straw, hay, and wood shavings.

Le Le’s arrival was a significant event for Singapore, as it took seven breeding attempts between his parents, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, before the nation welcomed its first panda cub in 2021. To help Le Le transition, the Animal Care team is training him to use a new private den separate from his mother. After this separation, Le Le and Jia Jia will share their exhibit, with public viewing hours scheduled for Le Le from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Jia Jia from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Although Le Le will move back to China, Kai Kai and Jia Jia’s stay in Singapore has been extended until 2027, following a contract extension late last year. The couple, who arrived from China in 2012 under a ten-year loan, may even welcome a second cub as early as 2024, according to Mandai Wildlife Group.