Last week, Kai Kai and Jia Jia made headlines in Singapore as the nation
watched in anticipation of the arrival of the VIPs (Very-Important-Pandas) in a
Singapore Airlines cargo jet at Changi Airport's Jet Quay terminal at 8.20am on
Sept 6.
Singapore joins an exclusive club of nine countries that China has chosen to
lend its pandas to, for a period of 10 years, in what is known as "panda
diplomacy". This is to mark 20 years of close ties between the two nations.
Already, the duo's arrival has spun off Panda-inspired coins, stamps and
even pastries.
What's next for them?
The furry bears - now in quarantine - will make their public debut in
December at the River Safari, one of the 16 zoos outside China where people can
see pandas, reported The Straits Times.
During their stay here, the report said that they will have to "work their
magic" as pandas have a narrow window to mate. Females are fertile only two to
three days a year.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other Singapore officials have earlier
expressed their hope for the panda couple to have baby here.
Some other zoos that have successfully bred pandas in captivity include
those in Thailand, Japan and San Diego, California.
Will Kai Kai and Jia Jia meet their KPI (key performance indicator)?
For now it seems the priority is "to make sure they live comfortably and
well in Singapore," said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck
said in a speech at the arrival ceremony on Thursday.
maryanns@sph.com.sg
Before you get to see Kai Kai and Jia Jia in December, here are other
places you can go to see pandas in real life.
San Diego Zoo, California, US
The Californian zoo received the first panda in 1996. Now it's the home of
female Bai Yun and male Gao Gao, and male Yun Zi. [Pictured here: A 5-week-old
giant panda cub, weighing 3.2 pounds (1.5 kg), is seen in this handout picture
released by San Diego Zoo on September 6, 2012.]
San Diego Zoo, California, US
This is the sixth giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo, the most born at a
breeding facility outside of China. All six giant panda births have been to
mother Bai Yun.
Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, US
Giant panda Tai Shan goes after his "cake" during his 4th birthday
celebration at the Smithsonian's National Zoo on July 9, 2009 in Washington,
DC. But it left the zoo for China in 2010.
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Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, US
Home of female Mei Xiang and male Tian Tian.
Other zoos where you can see pandas in US: Zoo Atlanta and Memphis Zoo.
Zoo Berlin, Germany
Home to Bao Bao, a male born in 1978. [Picture taken on July 5, 2000 shows
Bao Bao, the oldest panda bear in his enclosure in the zoo Berlin.]
Zoo Berlin, Germany
Picture taken on October 26, 2005 shows Bao Bao, the oldest panda in his
enclosure in the zoo Berlin. The oldest male panda bear in the world, a gift
from China to former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, died on August 22, 2012
aged 34 in Berlin, its zoo said.
Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna, Austria
Giant panda Yang Yang and her cub Fu Hu cuddle in their enclosure on Fu Hu's
second birthday at the zoo in Vienna, August 23, 2012.
Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna, Austria
Fu Hu was born in August 2010 to female Yang Yang and male Long Hui, which
had been at the zoo since March 2003.
Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna, Austria
Giant panda Yang Yang and her cub Fu Hu relax in their enclosure on Fu Hu's
second birthday at the zoo in Vienna on August 23, 2012.
