THE first locally born giant pandas have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De.
The names of the cubs, affectionately known as “Elder Sister” and “Little Brother”, were announced yesterday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year.
The names were the winning suggestions from residents in a naming contest that drew more than 35,700 entries.
The Chinese character “Jia” carries a message of support and features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace. The name embodies the prosperity of families and the nation and the happiness of the people.
The Chinese character “De” means to succeed, carrying the connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. De also has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for virtue, suggesting pandas possess virtues cherished by Chinese people.
Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong said “Jia” sounds like a word in the Cantonese term for elder sister, while “De De” sounds a bit like the Cantonese phrase for little brother.
“It’s a very positive pair of names,” he said.
The twins’ birth in August made their mother, Ying Ying, the world’s oldest first-time panda mum. — AP
