Ya Ya, the panda, returns to China after 20 years

Ya Ya, the giant panda, landed in Shanghai after departing from the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, where she spent the past 20 years on loan.

The popular panda’s trip was closely followed online, with people tracking Ya Ya’s flight path into Shanghai.

“Finally back at home!” cheered one user in response to the news.

The zoo held a farewell party for Ya Ya earlier in April and said it would miss the panda. Her departure marks the end of a 20-year loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.

Ya Ya was born August 3, 2000, in Beijing. She lived at the Memphis Zoo along with Le Le, a male panda who was born July 18, 1998. Le Le died in February.

The life expectancy of a giant panda in the wild is about 15 years, but in captivity they have lived to be as old as 38.

Iron Man memorabilia world record

A Peru comic book fan’s collection of 1,548 pieces of memorabilia related to the Marvel hero Iron Man, earned him a Guinness World Records title.

Miguel Andrés Javier’s first Iron Man item was an action figure he bought second-hand in 2007, and the release of the first Iron Man film the following year inspired him to accumulate more items.

Javier’s collection now includes 1,548 pieces, including action figures, statues, books, DVDs, clothing items, backpacks and more, way more than the previous record-holder, John Nathaniel Laxamana, from Philippines, with a tally of 351 items.

Rare pink elephant spotted in South Africa

A rare pink elephant was spotted swimming with its mother and herd at the Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa.

The calf’s pink skin is due to a condition called leucism, a genetic mutation that causes a loss of pigmentation in an animal’s skin, hair, or feathers. This can result in white, pale or patchy skin, hair or feathers, as well as other abnormalities.

While this condition is quite rare, it’s not harmful to the elephant calf. In fact, it’s believed that the pink skin may even provide some protection from the harsh African sun, because the skin is more translucent, it allows more light to pass through, which can help regulate the calf’s body temperature.

Sculpture of euthanised walrus unveiled in Norway

A walrus that became a global celebrity last year after it was seen frolicking and basking in a Oslo fjord before it was euthanised by the authorities, has been honoured with a bronze sculpture in Norway. A crowdfunding campaign financed the sculpture.

The life-size sculpture by Norwegian artist Astri Tonoian was unveiled at the Oslo marina not far from the place where the actual 600-kilogramme mammal was seen resting and relaxing during the summer of 2022.

The decision to euthanise it — because people hadn’t followed recommendations to keep a safe distance away from the massive animal — caused public outrage.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 20th, 2023