The panda craze is not over yet. Ocean Park is welcoming not just one, but two new giant pandas! The pandas arrived in Hong Kong yesterday from Sichuan. Their arrival was met with celebrations across the city and at the park.
Just last month in August, Hong Kong celebrated the birth of a pair of giant panda twins. Now, the city is gearing up to see the two new giant pandas received by Ocean Park on Thursday. The pair, An An and Ke Ke, flew in from Sichuan as a gift to Hong Kong. Ocean Park’s mascot led fans, staff, and performers in welcoming the duo at the park yesterday afternoon. With their arrival, the Park now houses six giant pandas.
“Ocean Park is ready to spread the joy of Hong Kong’s newest pandas, An An and Ke Ke, throughout the city as our skilled animal care and veterinary teams give them the warmest of welcomes in their new home,” said Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation. “Their arrival is sure to renew enthusiasm for this adorable species and strengthen conservation and education efforts in Hong Kong.”
Get to know Ocean Park’s new giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke
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An An and Ke Ke, both five years old, have their unique personality and characteristics. An An is a male giant panda known for his adventurous spirit. Despite weighing more than 130kg, he is energetic and agile. He enjoys the company of his caretakers and is a fast learner, having mastered basic training exercises like targeting and lying down.
On the other hand, Ke Ke is more calm and posed. The female giant panda weighs around 100kg and often prefers to keep to her own space but also has a fun-loving side. Over the past two months of familiarisation, she has forged close bonds with her caretakers and picked up on husbandry training.
Meet the pandas in December
Although An An and Ke Ke landed in Hong Kong yesterday, the public will have to wait until early December before we can see them. The pair will first undergo mandatory quarantine for at least 30 days in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures at Ocean Park. Afterwards, the new pandas will have one to two months to acclimatise to their new habitat.
In the meantime, fans can keep updated on the pandas in the Park through the official Hong Kong pandas Instagram page. Soon, Ocean Park will also invite the public to participate in a naming competition for the new pandas. The new names will help the pair feel more at home in their new environment. Stay tuned for more details on how to participate.
(Images: Ocean Park)
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Written by
Johanna Muliani
Editorial Assistant, Dining and Culture
An Indonesian enamoured with the sights of Hong Kong, Jo is a curious spirit who loves telling stories with a focus on Art, People, and F&B. After work, you'll find Jo knitting, dabbling in gaming, and looking for where to eat next.
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