美国田纳西州孟菲斯动物园当地时间12月21日宣布，将把旅美大熊猫丫丫和乐乐归还中国，结束20年的租借期。

 

A pair of giant pandas will return to China after two decades at the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, the US state of Tennessee, as the zoo's current giant panda loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens is coming to an end.

在美国田纳西州孟菲斯市的孟菲斯动物园生活了20年之后，大熊猫丫丫和乐乐将回到中国。孟菲斯动物园与中国动物园协会的大熊猫租借协议即将到期。

 

Giant pandas Ya Ya and Le Le will "make the journey back to China within the next few months," the zoo announced on Wednesday.

孟菲斯动物园周三宣布，大熊猫丫丫和乐乐将“在未来几个月内返回中国”。

 

Ya Ya and Le Le came to Memphis in 2003, and the contract was renewed in 2013. The current loan agreement will end in 2023.

丫丫和乐乐于2003年抵达孟菲斯动物园开始旅美生涯，协议期限为10年，2013年到期后又延长了10年。

 

"Ya Ya and Le Le have been integral parts of the Memphis community for the past 20 years and we are grateful for the time we were able to spend with them," the zoo said in a statement.

孟菲斯动物园在一份声明中说：“在过去的20年里，丫丫和乐乐一直是孟菲斯不可或缺的一部分，我们很感激能和它们一起度过的时光。”

 

"During their time at Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le helped pioneer research and conservation projects to teach others about the importance of their species," the statement read.

声明中写道：“在孟菲斯动物园期间，丫丫和乐乐帮助开展了研究和保护项目，让其他人了解了大熊猫物种的重要性。”

 

The Memphis Zoo also underscored that it has been a privilege to host these incredible bears and that the impact the Chinese culture has had on the City of Memphis "will forever be remembered."

孟菲斯动物园还表示，非常荣幸能够接待这些令人难以置信的大熊猫，中国文化对孟菲斯市的影响“将永远被铭记”。