Sonia Chan visited the pavilion
The Giant Panda Pavilion in Seac Pai Van park reopened to the public yesterday, as Xin Xin and Kai Kai, the new pair of giant pandas presented to Macau by the central government, are in good health and ready to meet visitors.
The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, attended the opening ceremony of the Chinese Panda Research Exhibition on Sunday. She later visited the Panda Pavilion to meet Xin Xin and Kai Kai (Sam Sam and Hoi Hoi in Cantonese).
She told local media that experts from Sichuan said that the pandas are getting accustomed to Macau’s environment, as both are eating and sleeping well.
The giant pandas also seem to react positively to strangers’ visits.
Nevertheless, Macau authorities have decided to implement crowd control measures until June 30 to protect Xin Xin and Kai Kai from any possible anxiety triggered by a high number of visitors. Therefore, the giant panda pavilion will limit the number of spectators throughout this month.
The pair was transferred to the pavilion on May 27 from a local farm, where they had remained in quarantine since their arrival on April 30. According to a Government Information Bureau statement, the pandas’ condition has remained stable since then.
The pavilion remained closed until yesterday to allow for disinfection as well as the renovation of facilities and preparation works for the opening.
The giant pandas come as a gift from China. Chinese president Xi Jinping announced the central government’s intention to offer two new giant pandas when he visited Macau last December. The new pandas replace another pair, comprised of a female who died last year and a male panda that was returned to Sichuan for breeding. CP
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