Pandas starting to feel hot… for each other, says zoo official
The Malaysian Insider – 15 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Pandas starting to feel hot… for each other, says zoo official
They have been in Malaysia for hardly three days and the pair of giant pandas from China, Fu Wa and Feng Yi, are showing signs they want to mate.
According to Bernama, Malaysian Zoological Society deputy president Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat said the signs were detected by staff at Zoo Negara who have been specifically assigned to look after and manage the daily needs of the two panda bears since yesterday.
"There are already signs of interest in mating before the pair were flown to the country but the situation is more evident when they arrived and quarantined here (Zoo Negara) to adjust to each other.
"Among the early signs are that they will emit feline-like sounds and display extraordinary movements. While being quarantined, their cages are placed side by side," Rosly, who is also Zoo Negara deputy president, told Bernama.
He said the zoo would hold discussions with the Chinese authorities if they wish to allow the two pandas to mate naturally to produce a baby panda.
"This is because the panda pair is on loan from China and symbolic of the good relationship between both countries and so, we need to discuss this matter with them (China)" he said.
According to Bernama, the giant pandas are in a healthy state since the quarantine process began three days ago.
"The female panda Feng Yi appears less active and likes to move about since the first day at their 'new home' compared to the male panda (Fu Wa), that is calmer and still adjusting itself.
"Nevertheless both pandas have great appetites, eating about 30kg of food daily, including bamboo and shoots," he said.
The pair of pandas, a symbol of 40 years of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties, arrived from Chengdu, China on Wednesday to start a new life overseas for the next 10 years.
The pandas were loaned to Malaysia under the Malaysia-China Giant Panda International Conservation Agreement programme, which was signed in 2012.
The programme also allows Malaysia to undertake giant panda conservation research besides being able to develop and train local experts in the field.
If the two pandas succeed in breeding, Malaysia will also be allowed to keep the baby panda for a period of two years before it is returned to China, Bernama reported. – May 23, 2014.
