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20 years ago, two giant pandas came to Memphis and made an enormous impact

By , Daily Memphian Updated: March 28, 2023 7:39 PM CT | Published: December 22, 2022 11:53 AM CT

As Ya Ya and Le Le prepare to return home to China in the coming months, Memphis Zoo officials are preparing to make an official bid for a new mating pair of pandas. 

Related story:

Leaders, residents say goodbye to giant pandas

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Memphis Zoo giant pandas FedEx Ya Ya Le Le Jim Sasser Subscriber Only

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Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.


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