Singapore Zoo preps for China pandas
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Singapore Zoo preps for China pandas
By Channel NewsAsia's China Correspondent Glenda Chong | Posted: 17 May 2010 2017 hrsSICHUAN : Singapore is preparing to welcome two pandas from China in August next year.
On loan for a 10-year period, they will go on display at the River Safari attraction at the Singapore Zoo.
Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which owns the attraction, also intends to start a breeding programme of the endangered species.
Two-year-old Hu Bao is playful and affectionate, while three-year-old Wujie is strong and stable.
They are the two panda cubs that will be making Singapore home next year.
Currently staying at Bifengxia Panda Base, zoo keepers are preparing them for their move.
"They are very healthy and in excellent condition. Both are lively and vigorous. Our main goal now is to ensure they grow healthier. This is a critical period for their growth and development as they are in their adolescence," said Le De Sheng, deputy director of the National Nature Reserve Wuolong in Sichuan Province.
They are still on a diet of milk, steamed bread roll and bamboo, but will eventually be weaned off milk.
Pandas are notoriously known to be fussy eaters - there are about 40 different types of bamboo for them to choose from.
And the pair appear to have acquired a taste for Singapore cuisine.
"Singapore has sent some sample bamboo to us. The pandas had a 'food-tasting' and accepted the bamboos," said Huang Shan, a zoo keeper at Bifengxia Panda Base.
The Singapore Zoo will be planting an 8,000-square metre of bamboo plantation just for the pandas.
Besides diet, pandas are also sensitive to climate and environment.
"Singapore is hotter than Sichuan, so our main task now is helping them adapt. The best solution is for Singapore to make adjustments. Giant pandas live in temperatures lower than 25 degrees Celsius," said Huang.
With that in mind, Wildlife Reserves Singapore is building a climate-controlled enclosure that will closely simulate the panda's natural habitat.
It is also planning to start a breeding programme of the endangered species.
And Chinese zoo keepers are confident the pandas will mate, although they have yet to meet.
Huang said: "It should be 100% successful breeding. Their reproduction abilities are normal, and as long as conditions are right, and the female is ready, they can mate.
"The first time will probably not be successful. But when they are 7 or 8 years old, the success rate of conceiving will be higher."
It has been reported that the San Diego Zoo spent US$30 million to care for their pandas over 10 years.
Property firm Capitaland will be the sponsor and conservation donor of the Giant Panda Conservation Programme in Singapore - with significant donations over the 10-year period.
The pandas will be housed in the zoo's new attraction - River Safari - and will only greet visitors in early 2012.
Singapore is the 7th country to receive pandas on loan from China.
The cute envoys are symbolic of the close relationship between Singapore and China as both sides celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sino-Singapore relations this year. - CNA /ls -
We have enuf PRCs here.
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air-conditioned 8,000-square metre area for 2 pandas.....
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Should be able to reproduce bah.
Singapore Animal Zoo is known to be good at breeding, as compared to Singapore Human Zoo, which has poor breeding rate. LOL... -
Originally posted by Junyang700:
Should be able to reproduce bah.
Singapore Animal Zoo is known to be good at breeding, as compared to Singapore Human Zoo, which has poor breeding rate. LOL...Foreign talents.
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Treat them so good somemore, ganeena WTF?!?!
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For this two pandas to mate... what if the male panda find the female panda not chio enough?? Just like if you see a girl not very chio would you wanna fark her??
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Treat them so good somemore, ganeena WTF?!?!
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The two pandas must not be gay.
Look at the male white tiger. Two females to choose. No offspring after 12 years. LOL.... -
So if the two pandas mate, do Singapore gets to keep the baby?