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Pair for Taiwan Unveiled, Names Solicited
The Chinese mainland unveiled Friday the two giant pandas for
Taiwan compatriots as a goodwill gift, at a press conference in
Beijing.
The panda couple, both one year old, were selected from 23
candidates raised in the Wolong China Giant Panda Research Center
in Sichuan, said Cao Qingyao, spokesman of the State Forestry
Administration at a press conference, Friday in Beijing.
The male panda, first son of the US-returned star panda "Hua Mei,"
is one year and four months old, weighing 46kg. His female
companion is one month older than him, weighing 48kg.
"The panda experts were very, very cautious during the selection.
So I can say they are the best choice," said Cao Qingyao.
The pair, healthy both physically and mentally, has never suffered
from any illness since birth, and shows no abnormality in eating
habits or social and living activities, according to the
conference.
Amid worries about the couple's adaptability to the environment in
Taiwan, Cao revealed that the pair were deemed the most capable to
adapt to environmental changes among the candidates.
Officials expressed the hope for their early arrival in Taiwan. "We
hope the couple can meet the Taiwan compatriots as soon as possible
and the Taiwan authorities can follow the wishes of the people on
the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, providing active cooperation
on this issue," said Dai Xiaofeng, head of the exchange bureau of
the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. "We also hope the
Taiwan authorities can authorize an organization which will be
responsible for discussing affairs about the Taiwan-bound giant
panda couple with the wildlife protection departments on the
Chinese mainland," said Cao Qingyao.
The conference also kicked off the solicitation of the couple's
names which are required to contain two Chinese characters. A
shortlist of ten will be announced at the China Central Television
Spring Festival party which will be broadcasted live nationwide on
the Lunar New Year's Eve on January 28, officials said.
The final two names will be subject to the result of a public
vote.
Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs
Office of the State Council, announced last May that the mainland
would present a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots as a
symbol of peace, unity and friendship.
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and
is found only in China. It is estimated that 1,590 giant pandas
live in the wild in China and those in captivity totaled 183 in the
Chinese mainland by the end of last year.
