PETALING JAYA: After two weeks in quarantine at Zoo Negara, Malaysia’s newest stars – giant pandas Chen Xing and Xiao Yue – are starting to settle into their new home.
The pair, here on a 10-year stay under an extended China-Malaysia panda conservation agreement, are in their second week of quarantine and adaptation.
In a Facebook post yesterday, the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia said both pandas are healthy, eating well and beginning to show distinct personalities.
“Chen Xing, the more outgoing of the two, has quickly taken to exploring the indoor enclosure, passageways and main viewing area.
“Keepers say his favourite spot is the pool in the display area, where he spends much of the day moving about and checking out his new surroundings.
“Xiao Yue is described as gentle and quiet, and has been slower to warm up. She initially kept to a familiar corner but has now started ‘patrolling’ her territory, resting on wooden climbing structures and making more frequent trips back to the inner den to forage.”
Both pandas are eating their normal diet, which includes bamboo shoots, concentrate feeds, fruits and vegetables.
The joint China-Malaysia care team has also been fine-tuning their routines based on each panda’s needs.
Keepers are conducting training with Chen Xing to get him used to stepping on the scale for accurate weighing.
His bamboo shoot intake has dipped slightly compared with the first week and the team is trying out different bamboo varieties to find what suits him best.
Xiao Yue, meanwhile, is being encouraged to explore by having her food scattered in both the inner den and exhibition area.
When undisturbed, she is said to quietly enjoy her own “happy time”, eating and resting. Her bamboo intake has increased this week, a positive sign of adjustment.
Experts from both countries are monitoring their vital signs, weight, food intake and excretions to ensure they get through the adaptation period smoothly.
Chen Xing and Xiao Yue’s arrival marks a new chapter in the panda partnership between Malaysia and China, following the return of much-loved Fu Wa and Feng Yi to China on May 18 after their stint at Zoo Negara.
