Macau-born giant panda twins Jian Jian and Kang Kang celebrated their 10th birthday on Friday, with the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announcing during the festivities that the pair will be relocated to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding at the end of October.
The birthday celebration at the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion in Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane brought together dozens of local students who also turned 10 this year, alongside parents, teachers and officials from the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM).
Speaking to the media on Friday, IAM officials said that the pandas’ move is part of national giant panda management arrangements coordinated by the Central People’s Government, the Chengdu Research Base, and the local government.
The officials said that the local government will actively cooperate with the relocation plan, adding that, following the departure of Jian Jian and Kang Kang, the Giant Panda Pavilion will undergo renovation works, including upgrades to its air-conditioning system and the replacement of climbing structures inside the enclosure.
Regarding whether the twin brothers could return to Macau in the future, the officials said any such decision would be jointly coordinated by the Central People’s Government, the Chengdu Research Base and the local government, adding that Macau’s husbandry team will accompany the pandas during the journey to Chengdu to minimise travel-related stress and monitor their adaptation to their new environment.
Meanwhile, the “Nebula Pavilion” in Chengdu, where Jian Jian and Kang Kang will stay, has already been upgraded in preparation for their arrival, the officials said, adding that Chengdu’s care team will travel to Macau 10 days before the relocation to assist with preparations.
Many of the invited children expressed sadness upon learning that the pandas would be leaving Macau, according to public broadcaster TDM.
Born in Macau in 2016 to giant pandas Kai Kai and Xin Xin, Jian Jian and Kang Kang* have become one of the city’s most recognisable animal attractions, according to a statement by the bureau last week.
* The names Jian Jian (健健) and Kang Kang (康康) carry a simple yet deeply meaningful wish for the people of Macau: “good health.” When combined, the characters Jian and Kang form the Chinese word for health (jiankang / 健康). In Cantonese, they are known as Kin Kin and Hong Hong (kin hong / 健康). – Gemini
These handout photos provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) on Friday show the two giant panda twins – Jian Jian (up) and Kang Kang – eating their icy birthday cakes in Seac Pai Van Park.
