Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China.

Just like pandas, I hope Japan and China can be friends,’ said a visitor, who came to admire Ri Ri and Shin Shin at Ueno zoo.

Two pandas are heading back to China eight years early amid lower-than-hoped-for visitor numbers at a zoo in rural Finland, and after the pair didn’t produce a cub.

Due to the excessive costs associated with their care, two giant pandas leased from China and kept at a Finnish zoo were returned.

Shutterstock / Elena Sirotkina A zoo in Finland has agreed to send to loaned pandas back to China after the costs of keeping the critters have become too much. According to the NY Post, declining visitors to the zoo have made the pandas unaffordable.