Two giant pandas, female Xiannu, left, and male Bili are seen at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo

Two giant pandas, female Xiannu, left, and male Bili are seen at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo Friday, April 1, 2011 as the pair from China made their debut appearance. The pair, which the Tokyo metropolitan government is renting for $950,000 a year, was first supposed to debut for the public in late March following health checks and other procedures, but the event was canceled due to the March 11th quake and tsunami that led to the immediate closure of the zoo. JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT.




A woman wearing a head accessory depicting a giant panda waits for Ueno Zoological Park to open to see the first public appearance of female giant panda Xiannu, named Shin Shin in Japan, and male panda Bili, named Ri Ri in Japan, in Tokyo April 1, 2011. Xiannu and Bili, both five years old, who arrived from China's Sichuan province in February, were shown to the public at Ueno on Friday, marking the first viewing of pandas in Japan in three years. The appearance of the two giant pandas coincides with the reopening of the zoo from a temporary closure, following the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, Kyodo news reports.



Thousands people queue up to see a pair of giant pandas under cherry blossoms outside of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.




A woman waits for Ueno Zoological Park to open to see the first public appearance of female giant panda Xiannu, named Shin Shin in Japan, and male panda, Bili, named Ri Ri in Japan, in Tokyo April 1, 2011. Xiannu and Bili, both five years old, who arrived from China's Sichuan province in February, were shown to the public at Ueno on Friday, marking the first viewing of pandas in Japan in three years. The appearance of the two giant pandas coincides with the reopening of the zoo from a temporary closure, following the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, Kyodo news reports.




Female giant panda Shin Shin eats bamboo at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.




People queue up to see a pair of giant pandas at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.



A girl buys a panda doll at a souvenir shop near Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.



Female giant panda Xiannu, named Shin Shin in Japan, eats bamboo at Ueno Zoological Park in Tokyo April 1, 2011, on the first day of its public appearance together with male panda, Bili, named Ri Ri in Japan. Xiannu and Bili, both five years old and who arrived from China's Sichuan province in February, were shown to the public at Ueno on Friday, marking the first viewing of pandas in Japan in three years. The appearance of the two giant pandas coincided with the reopening of the zoo from a temporary closure, following the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan, Kyodo news reports.



A girl holds a panda plush toy as she joins a crowd of people waiting for the opening of Ueno Zoological Park in Tokyo April 1, 2011.



A boy looks at a giant female panda Shin Shin eating bamboo at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.



A giant female panda Shin Shin eats bamboo at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on April 1, 2011. A pair of pandas, leased from China, arrived at Ueno Zoo on February 21, and are now displayed to the public after the zoo closed following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.


source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages