Giant Pandas Arrive in Hong Kong

A⁢ pair of ‍giant pandas donated by ⁢the ‌central ⁣government arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday. The two giant pandas, both 5 ‌years old, are expected to ‌meet the⁤ public in​ mid-December.

Chief Executive Li Jiachao announced the arrival of the giant pandas and revealed that the male panda’s name⁣ is “An An” and‌ the female panda is named “Ke⁢ Ke”. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau‌ will hold​ a ​”territory-wide naming campaign” in October,​ and ‍a large-scale painting competition will also be held later.

The two giant pandas will be quarantined ⁤for at ⁤least 30 days at Ocean Park,‌ followed ⁤by another 30 days to adapt​ to ⁤the new environment.​ Experts will evaluate the time when ‍they are suitable to see people, with the goal of having them meet the public by mid-December.

“An’an” weighs more than 130 ‌kilograms, is strong, agile, ⁣smart, and active, while “Keke” weighs about 100 kilograms, is good‍ at climbing, has ⁣a ⁢docile temperament, is ​gentle ⁤and cute. To help ‍the two giant‌ pandas adapt to the new environment, Ocean Park has sent nursing staff to Sichuan ‌to conduct ⁤preliminary work, ‍including understanding ‌their habits and ⁤supporting ⁢their physical examination.

The two giant pandas will stay at the Hong‌ Kong Jockey ​Club Sichuan Curiosities Center⁢ in Ocean Park. To bring the habitat closer to the wild‌ environment, Ocean‍ Park has‌ completed the first phase of optimization projects, including ‍adding climbing frames, plants, and⁣ renovating the ground.

Li Jiachao‌ pointed out that many large-scale programs will incorporate the unique ‍”Panda Experience”, such as the drone show‌ of the Hong ​Kong⁤ Tourism Board and the ⁣special edition of the “Symphony of Lights” show to celebrate ⁣the 75th⁤ anniversary ​of the ‌National ⁣Day next month. He⁣ invites all Hong Kong citizens‌ to ⁣participate in the giant panda⁢ craze and⁤ encourages all sectors of society to seize opportunities and launch relevant promotional activities.

The pair⁤ of giant panda twins born locally last month ‍are in a “storm-like ⁣growth” stage, with their hair beginning to become thicker and their⁣ black and white fur becoming more ⁢and more obvious. Li Jiachao ‌has asked Ocean Park‌ to maintain close communication with ‍experts and seek expert opinions so that ⁢they can meet with the public as⁤ early as possible ⁢early next year.

Image Credits:

Li Jiachao Facebook, China ‌Giant Panda Research and Conservation Center Picture