According to Ahtari Risto Sivonen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ahtari Zoo (Finland), the zoo has invested 8.92 million USD to build a habitat for pandas and spends 1.67 million USD each year to raise them, including conservation fees paid to China. The management of Ahtari Zoo hopes that pandas will attract a large number of tourists.

However, after the COVID-19 crisis, due to the economic burden, Ahtari Zoo discussed returning the two pandas if they could not ensure the cost of raising them. At that time, the zoo asked for government support but was not accepted.

Mr. Sivonen said that to reach a consensus with China, the negotiations to return the pandas took nearly three years, and the pandas are expected to be returned to China in November.

Currently, the two pandas Lumi and Pyry are quarantined and will return to China after a month. Visitors can admire them until October 20. From October 21, the zoo will close the panda viewing area.

The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the return of the pandas was a private decision in the zoo's business cooperation, not related to the Finnish Government. This does not affect diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China began its “panda diplomacy” program in 1972, when the first pair of pandas were sent to the United States after former President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing. China regards pandas as “diplomatic emissaries,” regularly gifting or lending pairs to countries to strengthen trade relations, strengthen foreign relations, and enhance its international image.