Malaysia Ready For 2014 Pandamania

By Niam Seet Wei

CHENGDU (China), Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Although there is no indication of the arrival date of the giant pandas, Fengyi and Fuwa, at their new home in Putrajaya's Wetland Park, 'pandamania' is seeping into the nation.

Fengyi and Fuwa were among the eight pandas that made a grand entrance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They have been loaned to Malaysia for the next 10 years.

The Chinese government's geasture is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China in 2014.

FENGYI AND FUWA

Fengyi and Fuwa were born on Aug 23, 2006, in the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Centre, Sichuan province. They currently reside in Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base.

Fengyi, which is a six year old female panda, is equivalent to a 19 year old human. It will arrive in Malaysia with her male partner, Fuwa.

When asked on how one can identify Fengyi and Fuwa, their caretaker, He Fuzhi, said, "Fuwa's nose is more prominent, its forehead is round and it looks strong.

"Fengyi has a round face with a wide mouth. She is more irascible than Fuwa," said He, who has been with the Bifengxia Panda Base for the last 10 years.

Both Fengyi and Fuwa weigh more than 100kg.

CAN MALAYSIA GROW BAMBOOS TO FEED PANDAS?

While Malaysians are eagerly waiting for the arrival of Fengyi and Fuwa, people are concerned if Malaysia can provide the right habitat and food for the pandas.

Firstly, Malaysia does not have the right climate and bamboo trees. These are available only in China's Sichuan province.

However, an official at the Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Tang Chunxiang, assured that there are ways to overcome these shortcomings.

The senior veterinarian feels Malaysia should look at how Singapore has been growing special bamboos that can adapt to the local weather, and how they can create an environment that is suitable for pandas.

When asked on how long it will take a panda to adapt to its new home, Tang said, "Usually, a panda will take half a year to one year to adapt to a new environment".

PANDAS NEED ABOUT 50KG OF BAMBOOS EVERY DAY

"Every day, giant pandas spend 70 per cent of the time eating. This is because their digestive system is similar to that of a carnivore's. Therefore, they can digest food quickly, leading to hunger pangs within a short period of time," he told the media team that visited the Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base recently.

Furthermore, he said the bamboos that pandas feed on has little nutritional value. Hence, giant pandas require about 50 kilogrammes of bamboos every day, to meet their energy needs.

He pointed out that a panda eats 10 per cent of 50 kilogrammes of bamboos because it only feeds on certain parts of a bamboo - the leaves, stems and shoots.

At Bifengxia Panda Base, keepers also feed Fengyi apples and panda cake - a special mix of rice, egg, soy bean, corn, bamboo powder and purified water.

Tang said he is not aware if the five bamboo species identified by Malaysia will meet the requirements of Fengyi and Fuwa.

MALAYSIA CAN HAVE PANDA CUBS TOO

Tang believes that the Wetland Park in Putrajaya will serve as an appropriate habitat for the pandas.

Last October, a group of researchers and delegates from Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry paid a visit to the Panda Base to examine the enclosures for the pandas.

"We gave a few ideas and recommended some modifications to the enclosures in the Wetland Park," said Tang.

"China has been sending pandas to many countries, and so far, no panda deaths have been reported. Hence, we are confident that it will be the same with Malaysia," he said, with a hope that a panda cub will be born in Malaysia.

He said Fengyi and Fuwa are old enough to mate. They are also healthy and in their prime reproductive years.

Tang believes that the arrival of Fengyi and Fuwa will not only unleash 'pandamania' in Malaysia but also in the neighbouring countries.

PANDAS TO BOOST TOURISM INDUSTRY

Tang assured that Fengyi and Fuwa will definitely boost Malaysia's tourism industry.

"Pandas are harmless, cuddly and unique. These bamboo eaters do not pose any threat to other animals and human beings. In fact, everybody loves pandas," he said.

Currently, there are 1,590 giant pandas in the world.

He stressed that these pandas will not only strengthen the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China, but they will also create public awareness with regard to pandas' behaviours and the conservation process.

CHINA'S PANDA DIPLOMACY SINCE 685

China's panda diplomacy predates to the year 685, and as the national treasures of China, giant pandas serve as 'goodwill ambassadors' to enhance friendship and mutual understanding between China and other nations.

It has been reported that between the year 685 and 1982, about 40 pandas made their way to foreign countries under the panda diplomacy programme.

In 1984, a panda loan system was established, where foreign zoos could adopt pandas for captive breeding programmes.

China receives US$1 million annually from countries which borrow pandas. Sixty per cent of the funds are used for the protection of wild pandas and 40 per cent are used to conduct research on pandas that are raised in captivity.

-- BERNAMA