Cute cubs cause 'pandamonium' (hktdc.com)


	New panda cubs Ying Ying (front) and Le Le are set to be the star attraction at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park

A pair of panda cubs given to Hong Kong from China's central government will help celebrate the Special Administrative Region's 10th anniversary. The pandas, male Le Le and female Ying Ying, meaning happiness and abundance, will be unveiled to the public on July 1.

Their names were chosen from over 13,000 entries in a competition. Until recently, Le Le was known as number 606 and Ying Ying, number 610 on the Wolong Nature Reserve in the bamboo-forested mountains of Sichuan province in south-western China, where they come from.

The giant pandas, one of the world's most endangered species, are settling in well at the state-of-the art special enclosure at Hong Kong's home grown marine-themed park, Ocean Park, having arrived there on April 27. They are getting acclimatised to their new surroundings before "pandamonium” hits the city in July.

Ocean Park Chairman Allan Zeman said the young pandas are in great shape and spirits. "In fact, they have been observed to be actively exploring and taking in their new homes with a certain curiosity and playfulness.”

National treasures

A team of professional and top calibre panda keepers who have experience in looking after Ocean Park's other couple of pandas, called An An and Jia Jia, will give their full attention to the newcomers. "We pledge to give all four national treasures the best care and attention as they take on their new roles as animal ambassadors for Ocean Park,” said Mr Zeman. "We have no doubt that like An An and Jia Jia, they too will grow up to occupy a unique place in the hearts of the people of Hong Kong.”

Visitors to Ocean Park are already waiting eagerly to see the furry black and white bears with those funny eyes. A host of activities is being planned to show off the cute pair. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong has started a HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) fundraising drive to support more panda and panda habitat conservation projects in the Chinese mainland.

Le Le and Ying Ying have hardly set foot in Hong Kong for two months and in typical fashion, Hong Kongers are thinking ahead.

"We wish them to breed as many offspring as possible,” said Hong Kong's Home Affairs Secretary Patrick Ho at a welcoming ceremony for the pair at Hong Kong International Airport.

Already, Ocean Park has broken its attendance records and expects an estimated 4.8 million visitors by the end of June. There is little doubt that the debut of Le Le and Ying Ying will catapult Ocean Park's attendance sky high and set a new visitor record.