M'sian-born panda leaves for China
Published on: Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian-born giant panda cub Nuan Nuan today began her journey to China, the land of her parents. She will be sent to the Dujiangyan Panda Base in Sichuan.The 26-month-old panda was brought out of the Giant Panda Conservation Centre (GPCC) in Zoo Negara in a special cage at 10.50am Tuesday, said a Zoo Negara spokesman. Nuan Nuan, which weighs about 90kg, was then sent to the Maskargo Animal Hotel in Sepang in a special Wildlife Department lorry.
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The spokesman said she was scheduled to depart KL International Airport in a Malaysia Airlines flight for Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu.Nuan Nuan, which was born on Aug 18, 2015 at the GPCC, is the offspring of giant pandas Xing Xing and Liang Liang which were loaned by the Chinese Government to Malaysia for 10 years.The two giant pandas, which were called Fu Wa and Feng Yi in China, arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014, in conjunction with the 40 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.Nuan Nuan's birth came as a huge surprise for Malaysia, although it had created an environment for the giant pandas to have an offspring. The baby came in just 15 months.
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Her departure for China is in accordance with the terms of the Giant Panda Conservation International Collaboration Programme Agreement signed with China on June 15, 2012, which states that the offspring of Xing Xing and Liang Liang will be sent to China once it turns two.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"Nuan Nuan is a good panda cub and did not give us a lot of problems. Of course we are sad but, at the same time, we are proud as Nuan Nuan is a symbol of Malaysia's ability to breed the unique animal and hope that next time, Malaysia will be given the chance to rear other threatened animals too," he said.
