The Life of a Japanese Panda During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Tokyo Entertainment Stayhome

2020.05.03

Ueno Zoo is famous for its pandas, and thankfully we're getting frequent updates despite the coronavirus quarantine.

With Tokyo nearing a month under an official state of emergency lockdown, and Japan in general practicing social distancing since almost the beginning of the year, all of us (including the Japankuru team) are starting to feel it. Which is probably why it's so satisfying right now for us all to see Ueno Zoo's pandas looking just as bored, lazy, and stationary as we all feel.

いい天気・・・
いつもの場所で・・・
みなさんもGWのお休みはゆっくりお過ごしください。#やっぱりやぐらの一番上 #デイパン #臨時休園中 #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/8LYeqUGlb8
— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) April 29, 2020

Just look at that yawn from Xiang Xiang (also known as Shan Shan). We get it, Xiang Xiang. It's a lazy day in Ueno.

10時のリーリー#デイパン #臨時休園中 #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/D0dc2VUraL
— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) April 30, 2020

Ueno Zoo is just one of the many zoos and aquariums around Japan who have been sharing their cutest animals on Twitter every day, to bring a little bit of joy to our stressful quarantined lives. But there's something about the way pandas live every day that makes Ueno Zoo's daily panda updates seem particularly appropriate. I mean, just look at Ri Ri (Xiang Xiang's father) taking a nap in the corner. Is that not all of us right now?

今日の降りかた#今日は小さい放飼場 #デイパン #臨時休園中 #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/jOv22vZlfG
— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) April 28, 2020

Xiang Xiang climbing down to just dive right into a pile of bamboo is just like every single one of us searching for snacks all day after accomplishing... anything at all.

4回目の観察で、「長いタケノコを発見したシャンシャン」を発見！ #先端部を握って食べ進めます #デイパン #臨時休園中 #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/EQ5mwA0cs6
— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) April 30, 2020

After refraining from going out to eat in public for months, even that bamboo is starting to look pretty good.

今日の食事風景①
竹筒を振って#固形飼料を取り出します！
（あれ…その2つは竹筒を振る前から出ていたよ。）#デイパン #臨時休園中 #休園中の動物園水族館 pic.twitter.com/zNQPod5rNC
— 上野動物園［公式］ (@UenoZooGardens) April 27, 2020

There's just no resisting the adorably relatable antics of Ueno Zoo's pandas, and we're immensely grateful that they're keeping up such regular updates! We can't wait to see what the zoo's pandas are up to tomorrow, too.

Have you been following any Japanese zoos or aquariums on the internet lately? Found any criminally cute animals out there? Let us know on the Japankuru twitter, instagram, and facebook!