New pandas An An and Ke Ke are coming to HK

Published on : 24/09/2024

Editor︰Yan

Hong Kong's panda family has welcomed new members! Two giant pandas An An (安安) and Ke Ke (可可), are scheduled to be sent from Mainland China to Hong Kong on September 26, joining two other pandas Ying Ying (盈盈), Le Le (樂樂) and their one-month old twin cubs at the Ocean Park.

In the future, Hong Kong will have six giant pandas in total. The Hong Kong Jockey Club donates over HK$121 million to support expansion and enhancement of giant panda habitat at Ocean Park.

HK Panda｜An An is smart and active while Ke Ke is gentle and quiet

An An, born in the China Giant Panda Protection Research Centre, is one of the mascots of Ya'an City in Sichuan Province. (Image Source: Weibo @ China Giant Panda Protection Research Centre)

The male panda An An, who turns five this year and was born in June 2019, has a round head and a long body and is agile, smart, and active. Weighing over 130 kilograms, he is outgoing and lively.

Ke Ke, originally called Tian Ke and also known as Yuan Mei, lived at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base before going to Hong Kong. (Image Source: Weibo @ China Giant Panda Protection Research Centre)

Female panda Ke Ke, originally named Tian Ke (甜可), is also five years old this year and was born in June 2019. She is gentle, lively, good at climbing and is known as a "tomboy" in the panda world.

The two pandas are in good health and are currently under quarantine at the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. They leave for Hong Kong on September 26 to settle in Ocean Park.

To ensure An An and Ke Ke could journey to Hong Kong safely and adapt to their new home, the China Giant Panda Protection Research Centre carried out a comprehensive health evaluation. They also arranged for experts and breeders to have in-depth exchanges with the four breeders from Ocean Park in Hong Kong.

When An An and Ke Ke step on their journey to Hong Kong, one breeder and one veterinarian will be sent from the Panda Centre to accompany them and stay for a while.

HK Panda｜Hong Kong will hold naming contest

An An is playing inside the Bi Feng Xia Base in Ya'an, attracting attention for his adorable and playful demeanor. (Image Source: VCG)

What cannot be missed is that in order to welcome these two pandas to Hong Kong, there will be a naming contest in October. It encourages Hong Kong citizens to showcase creativity and propose meaningful names that highlight the pandas' distinct traits.

In regards to the new born local panda twins, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, indicated that he has requested the Ocean Park to maintain close communication and consultation with experts to allow the public to see the baby pandas as soon as possible at the beginning of next year.

He stated that once the two pandas have more distinct physical features and personalities, it would be an opportune time to hold the naming contest. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will make further announcements at that point.

HK Panda｜Expansion and enhancement of panda habitat at Ocean Park

HKJC Sichuan Treasures at Ocean Park. (Facebook@ Ocean Park Hong Kong)

Upon the arrival of pandas An An and Ke Ke, along with Ying Ying, Le Le, who have been living in Hong Kong for many years, and their newly born twins, there will be six pandas in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced that it had approved an donation of over HK$121 million to upgrade animal habitats within the "Giant Panda Adventure" and "Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures".

These will provide a high-quality, safe, age-appropriate and more natural living habitat for giant pandas living in the Park, which would include snow features and landscape restoration.

The donation will also support the expansion of the "Giant Panda Adventure" as well as educational programmes for students from underprivileged backgrounds, enabling them to visit the giant pandas at Ocean Park.