The Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee , hosted a farewell party for its female giant panda, Ya Ya, on Saturday.

It was reported that hundreds of people attended the farewell ceremony at the China Expo, where they said goodbye to "Ya Ya", signed letters, and watched cultural performances.

"If you can't make it to the party, there's still time," the Memphis Zoo wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week, adding, "'Ya Ya' will be here until the end of the month."

"I am so sad to see Ya Ya leaving. I knew this would happen eventually, but one is never prepared for a situation like this," someone said in an online comment, adding, "Goodbye my sweet princess."

Ya Ya came to the Memphis Zoo in 2003 with male giant panda Him Him as part of a partnership between the zoo, located in downtown Memphis, and the Chinese Association of Zoos.

The Memphis Zoo announced in December 2022 that its giant panda loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoos would expire in 2023.

Unfortunately, he died in February before they returned to China. The death occurred due to heart disease, according to an autopsy conducted by Chinese and American experts.

The Memphis Zoo has previously responded to concerns surrounding Ya Ya, who was born in China on August 3, 2000.

"With regard to her condition, people have noted that she is a very small bear," the Memphis Zoo wrote in a statement in February, adding, "Outwardly, this stems not from her diet, but from her family genes."

"'Ya Ya' also suffers from chronic skin and fur diseases that are inherently linked to her immune system and are directly affected by hormonal fluctuations," the statement read.

"This condition does not affect her quality of life, but makes her fur look thin and patchy at times," the statement continued, noting that "the case is being closely monitored by our animal care team and veterinary staff."