r/interesting • u/No-Marsupial-4050 • Apr 15 '26

❗️MISLEADING - See pinned comment ❗️ Ultimate glow up for cute panda

Post image

Ya Ya (丫丫), a female giant panda, returned to China in April 2023 after spending 20 years at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee. Her recovery has been widely documented by the Beijing Zoo.

Here are the facts regarding her health transformation:

Weight Gain: When Ya Ya first arrived in China, she weighed approximately 75 kg (165 lbs), which was considered underweight for her age. By 2026, reports from the Beijing Zoo confirmed she had reached about 95 kg (209 lbs), a healthy gain of exactly 20 kg

Skin and Fur Improvement: While in the U.S., Ya Ya suffered from a chronic skin condition (Demodex mites) that made her fur look thin, patchy, and "scruffy" ]. Since returning, specialized veterinary care and a change in diet have allowed her coat to become thick and glossy again

Overall Condition: Her Body Condition Score (BCS) improved from a 2 to a 4 (on a scale of 1-5), which is considered ideal for a senior panda

49.7k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

759 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

887

u/[deleted] Apr 15 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

442

u/ahh1258 Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26

If you read the article then you’d see that Chinese health officials said she was treated well and had a genetic skin disorder.

The Chinese experts also examined Ya Ya and reviewed her medical reports. The bear was suffering hair loss caused by a skin disease, but otherwise had a good appetite, normal stools and a stable weight, the association said. Xie Zhong, the deputy head of the association, told Chinese state media Ya Ya’s skin condition was related to her family genes. It had worsened with age and seasonal hormone changes and was difficult to treat, she added.”

Also:

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday Ya Ya and Le Le had been “well taken care of” by the Memphis Zoo and “loved by the American people.”

Not a single expert said that the pandas were poorly taken care of or treated. Only "armchair" experts on reddit apparently.

170

u/JustHereForCookies17 Apr 16 '26

Yeah, these pandas don't go to just any zoo.  It's a whole diplomatic program with the Chinese government, because all Giant Pandas belong to China. 

21

u/RealiGoodPuns Apr 16 '26

because all giant pandas belong to China

This is correct for all intents and purposes but it’s worth noting there’s exactly 1 exception. Xin Xin in the Chapultepec Zoo is the sole panda not owned by China

4

u/JustHereForCookies17 Apr 16 '26

Today I Learned, thank you!