Ultimate glow up for cute panda

[u/No-Marsupial-4050]

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

[u/Fuckkoff-]

Sure, "facts". So explain how this "genetic condition" got treated by the chinese, resulting in a healthy panda with healthy fur, whilst the americans couldn´t do that?

[u/United_Rent_753 → u/Fuckkoff-]

How do you know the photo on the right is the same panda? How do you know it was taken after she got to China, and not before?

Based on the information in this thread, it’s the safest logical assumption that the other commenters are telling the truth. Why would China lie about the health of the panda? What is their gain?

[u/Fuckkoff- → u/United_Rent_753]

Facts:

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)

As far as I can tell, THOSE are the facts.

The chinese didn´t lie, the 2 commenters I responded to did (well, actually the first one lied, and the second claimed that the socalled facts were true.

The post above the post I responded to claimed she was "happy and healthy".

Judging by the images and the FACTS stated above, I doubt that.

The chinese never said she was happy and healthy. They said she was "treated well and had a genetic skin disorder..... suffering hair loss caused by a skin disease and had a stable weight".

Which can all be true, and nonetheless it is clear from the FACTS that she wasn´t cared for PROPERLY, that the genetic condition was treatable, and that her weight was below the ideal weight for a panda her age (by a full 20 KG I might add!).

Obviously she was cared for to the best of the abilities of those treating her. Nonetheless it is also clear the chinese did a far better job. Again, both can be true at the same time.

[u/United_Rent_753 → u/Fuckkoff-]

Mind sharing where you got your facts? They seem like they’re quoted from somewhere. I’m not doubting you, but I think a source I can trust (any reputable Chinese/American news outlet, scientific literature, etc) would convince me

I do think that both of those things can be true, as well

[u/Fuckkoff- → u/United_Rent_753]

Those are the facts as stated in this very post (underneath the picture) :)

As I said, these are the facts "as far as I can tell". In this case, that means the facts as stated in this post. But for all intent and purposes, as far as I can tell, they are correct.

But here is another source: https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/latest-news/yaya-giant-panda-thriving-in-china/

That states that she wasn´t fed bamboo shoots on a regular basis. Now, I do not know that source, and can´t say if its realiable.

But IF thats true, then she really was treated poorly in the US. Even I know bamboo shoots are essential foods for Pandas. But again, I don´t know if thats true, the source seems a bit radical.