Austria says ’so long’ to Fu Long the panda

(AP)

VIENNA — A 2-year-old panda who charmed his way into the hearts of Austrians is headed to China.

Fu Long has been the star attraction at Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Zoo since he was born there on Aug. 23, 2007.

Artificial insemination is common practice when breeding captive pandas but Fu Long was conceived naturally.

His parents were sent on loan from China with the understanding that their offspring would be sent to their homeland.

Zoo officials say Fu Long left Austria Wednesday for the Bifengxia panda base about 90 miles (150 kilometers) from Chengdu.

His departure has been hyped in Austrian media for days. Last week, the respected newspaper “Der Standard” ran a headline saying “So Long, Fu Long.”

Two-year-old panda Fu Long eats bamboo, on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in his enclosure at the Schoenbrunn zoo in Vienna. Fu Long will leave Austria on Nov. 18 for a panda habitat in Chengdu in the Chinese province of Sichuan. (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Similar Posts:

• Vienna zoo’s panda Fu Long heads for China
• Panda moved after China quake gives birth to twins
• China prepares to send pandas to new Sichuan home
• Fu Long the panda celebrates turning two in Vienna zoo
• China Holds Funeral for Panda Killed by Earthquake