Giant Panda Ya Ya Returns to China

From the Memphis Zoo Press Release: On Wednesday, April 26th, giant panda Ya Ya began her journey back to China. Ya Ya is accompanied by Memphis Zoo's senior veterinarian and Chief Zoological Officer – together they possess over 25 years of giant panda experience. Our veterinarian will manage any medical concerns or needs, while our Chief Zoological Officer will manage all husbandry needs while en route. Memphis Zoo's panda loan agreement ended this spring and Ya Ya is returning to China to live out her golden years. After 20 years, Ya Ya has become like family, and she will be sorely missed by the Memphis Zoo staff and the local community. We wish her the best of luck in her new home. ~ The Memphis Zoo

I dug through my archive to rekindle some of the memories from when my colleague, Wayne Risher and I went along to China to document the zoo officials bringing back the Giant Pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le to the Memphis Zoo.

It was a big deal for Memphis!

Below is a photo gallery from China in 2003. See where they lived and how officials prepared the pandas to fly on a FedEx plane to Memphis.

Here is another photo gallery of daily life around Beijing and Shanghai.

Here is a gallery with more current photos of the pandas and also YaYa’s recent going away party at the Memphis Zoo and the panda exhibit.

Here are some links to the coverage of Ya Ya’s return, including this one that speaks to the politics of pandas by CNN.

https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/04/28/china-welcomes-ya-ya-panda-home-after-20-years-abroad/

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/china/china-us-ya-ya-panda-diplomacy-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/panda-yaya-china-memphis-zoo-diplomacy-washington-beijing-geopolitics-rcna81566

https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/35795/ya-ya-memphis-zoo-giant-pandas-return-to-china

Here is a link to my prior blog post that includes links to videos of the Pandas-

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2022/12/21/giant-pandas-leaving-memphis-zoo

Karen's Tiger Tales~ Tigers Lose to Houston at the Buzzer

A heartbreaking Tiger loss to Houston, at the buzzer. The Tigers played hard for a sold-out crowd at the Fed-Ex Forum Sunday, March 5, 2023. Photo highlights here~

AP GAME STORY HERE:

https://apnews.com/article/houston-memphis-jamal-shead-4ffe340840a5236af0783dc959a99072

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME AND FANS BELOW-

Karen's Tiger Tale's Tigers Beat Bearcats-

The Memphis Tigers beat Cincinnati Bearcats 76-73 on Sunday Feb. 26, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS

LINK TO TIGERS COMING ONTO THE COURT- https://youtube.com/shorts/PxUbFw4YFp8?feature=share

Always excellent articles by Geoff Calkins here: NCAA DREAMS https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/sportsgeoff-calkins/article/34451/calkins-penny-hardaway-promised-kendric-davis-the-ncaas

2023 Ameripolitan Awards

Visual Highlights from the 2023 Ameripolitan Music Awards

THE AMERIPOLITAN AWARDS ARE HOSTED BY DALE WATSON AND CELINE LEE

Each year, a mix of quirky and eccentric musical artists come together for a reunion and celebration with like-minded people in Memphis, Tennessee. Performers are honored and supported while having fun and sharing their music at the Ameripolitan Music Awards which are hosted by American Country singer and songwriter Dale Watson and his wife, singer Celine Lee. This year’s awards were held at the Guest House at Graceland Feb. 17-19th, 2023.

The event has been on hold for the past few years due to the pandemic but is once again in full swing.

You can find a list of the winners here.

Lucky for Memphians, the event is held right here in Bluff City and it offers hours of endless fun. Their four-day-long party rotates between Hernando’s Hide-A-Way and the beautiful Guest House at Graceland while celebrating Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, and Outlaw genres of music.

Spiffy dancers in their best attire, swing their way across the floor, inspired by some of the nation’s top artists. Vendors come from around the country selling boots, fringe jackets, belt buckles, and clothes, sometimes gently worn, authentic, top-notch vintage outfits. Sunday evening, after brunch and a few rounds of Chicken Sh*t Bingo at Hernando’s, the crowd moves back to the Guest House for the Awards.

All of this takes place just up the street from the home of Elvis Presley, Graceland.

Memphis has become a popular tourist destination, especially for those with a passion for music. With a rich musical history, Condé Nast Traveler named Memphis one of the 23 Best Places to Go in 2023 list and the 3 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023 list.

Alex Greene from the Memphis Flyer did a story to preview the event. https://www.memphisflyer.com/full-schedule-for-ameripolitan-music-awards-released