大熊猫丫丫和乐乐回国后（大熊猫丫丫和乐乐）

A US zoo is returning two giant pandas that had been on loan from China, a move welcomed on the mainland following recent allegations of mistreatment by animal rights activists.

美国一家动物园将归还从中国租借的两只大熊猫，此举在中国大陆受到欢迎。此前，动物权利活动人士指控该动物园虐待大熊猫。

The Memphis Zoo announced on December 21 that pandas Ya Ya and Le Le would be sent back to China early next year after a 20-year loan agreement between the zoo and the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens ended.

12月21日，孟菲斯动物园宣布，在动物园与中国动物园协会之间为期20年的租借协议结束后，大熊猫“丫丫”和“乐乐”将于明年初被送回中国。

Earlier this year, animal rights groups claimed that the zoo was mistreating the pandas.

今年早些时候，动物保护组织声称该动物园虐待大熊猫。

In February, the group In Defense of Animals (IDA) released a video online showing the animals pacing around their enclosure and accused the zoo of subjecting them to “physical, mental, and emotional deprivation”.

今年2月，“动物护卫者”组织网上发布了一段视频，视频中动物们在围栏里踱步，并指责动物园对它们进行了“身体、精神和情感上的虐待”。

The Chinese public, which had been shocked by the mistreatment accusations, welcomed news of the pandas' return to China.

被虐待指控震惊的中国公众对大熊猫回归中国的消息表示欢迎。

“Are those two pandas very underweight? God bless. Finally, they can leave that zoo,” commented one person on Weibo.

“那两只熊猫是不是体重过于瘦削了？上帝保佑。他们终于可以离开动物园了，”一位微博用户评论道。

“They must have suffered a lot. I hope they will enjoy the rest of their lives after coming home,” another said.

“他们一定吃了很多苦。我希望他们回家后能享受余生。”

Many expressed concern at the delay till next year for the pandas' homecoming: “Can they send them back as soon as possible?” Asked one person.

许多人对大熊猫被推迟到明年回家表示担忧:“他们能尽快送它们回来吗?”一个人问道。

The mistreatment claims saw millions of people in China join calls worldwide for the zoo to provide better living conditions for Ya Ya and Le Le. Others, such as American singer Billie Eilish, went further and called for the immediate removal of the pandas from Memphis Zoo.

虐待事件促使中国数百万人加入全球呼吁动物园为丫丫和乐乐提供更好的生活条件的行列。其他人，如美国歌手比莉•艾利什，则更进一步，呼吁立即将熊猫从孟菲斯动物园带走。

Memphis Zoo has denied the return of the pandas is related to the accusations, which it has rejected. A spokesperson for the zoo told Reuters the return was part of the agreement with China that requires foreign zoos to allow the loaned pandas to spend their final days on Chinese soil.

孟菲斯动物园否认归还大熊猫与这些指控有关，并否认了这些指控。动物园的一名发言人告诉路透社，归还大熊猫是与中国达成的协议的一部分，该协议要求外国动物园允许借出的大熊猫在中国领土上度过最后的日子。

The spokesperson added that Ya Ya and Le Le have already exceeded the average giant panda life expectancy in the wild by almost 10 years.

发言人补充说，丫丫和乐乐的寿命已经超过野生大熊猫的平均预期寿命近10年。

Ya Ya and Le Le have lived at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee since 2003, with Ya Ya now 24 years old and Le Le 22 years old.

“丫丫”和“乐乐”自2003年起就生活在田纳西州的孟菲斯动物园，“丫丫”今年24岁，“乐乐”今年22岁。