Giant Panda Adventure, Ocean Park, Hongkong: Perfectly Huggable

                                                     

The happy kids with the sleeping giant panda Ying Ying

We continued to the Amazing Asian Animals at the Waterfront to enjoy the GIANT PANDA Ying Ying (female) and Le le (male). They had their first mating last 2011. Both participated first time at the National Giant Panda Breeding Programme, with the aim of contributing to the over-all giant panda population. 

This year March until further noticed, it was closed from public to allow them breed and deliver in a controlled environment. According to Ms. Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations and Education, "Ying ying and Le le are turning 12 years old this August. Both of them have recently displayed oestrus behaviors such as water play and vocalizations by Ying ying, whilst Le le has shown increased sniffing of Ying ying's scent.  In terms of physical and hormonal changes, our veterinary team and giant panda experts from Wolong confirmed that the two giant pandas are entering this year's breeding season. Therefore, this is considered an appropriate timing for the experts teams of Ocean Park and Wolong to prepare for Ying ying and Le le's breeding season this year and temporarily close GPA.

Both Ying ying and Le Leg were gifts from China to Hongkong on 2007 to mark their 10th anniversary of Hongkon's return to Chinese sovereignty . She just turned 12 last August.

According to rthk.hk, she was pregnant for four months last 2015 but her cub died  before birth. She's showing signs of pregnancy but could be too early to confirm now (September 2017).

Le le's father, Ling ling, originally from Chongqing Zoo, was sent to live at Yaan Bifengxia Giant Panda Base for natural mating opportunities.  During 2005 breeding season, Le le's mother, Haizi, was paired with Ling ling and subsequently gave birth to Le le in August 2005. In 2014, a total of 30 giant panda cubs were born under this programme.

Both are distinctively black-and-white coat and huge.  I think they are so huggable like the stuff toy. We were all excited to see a real one since they do not exist back home.  

We were asked by the crew to be quiet in respect of them.  It's good the kids were behaved.