Panda News from around the world
  • Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan viewed by over 2 million visitors

    The superstars of Taipei zoo in Taiwan, have received over 2.25 million visitors since they arrived in Taiwan late last year.

    They receive between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors a day which peaks to 10,000 a day during holidays.

    The pair are enjoying their time in Taiwan, but do not like the heat preferring to stay in their air conditioned house when the temperatures reach over 25 degrees centigrade.
  • Thailanda Panda Cub Names

    On May 27th Taipei Zoo's panda Lin Hui gave birth to the first panda cub of the year. On the 10th of August she was name Lin Bing which means forest of ice.

    Her name was chosen from a short list of four names by 13.2 million of the 22 million post card votes that were sent in.

    Once again thanks to Chet for finding the news. You really do need to be up early to beat her.
  • Taipei's Pandas enjoy Dragon Festival

    Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, the two pandas of Taipei zoo have been given their own version of "Zongzi" a traditional dish served for the dragon boat festival.

    The pandas dis contained bamboo, carrots, apples mixed with sticky rice and wrapped in bamboo leaves.
  • Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan expecting 1,000,000 th visitor

    The wonderful giant pandas Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan who arrived in Taiwan in December 2008 and went on public display at the end of January is expecting to have their 1,000,000th visitor this weekend.

    The lucky person will receive gifts with Giant Panda logos on them, these items promote the importance of environmental protection and conservation to the public.

    The pair received their 500,000th visitor on February 28th.
  • Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan expecting 1,000,000 th visitor

    The wonderful giant pandas Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan who arrived in Taiwan in December 2008 and went on public display at the end of January is expecting to have their 1,000,000th visitor this weekend.

    The lucky person will receive gifts with Giant Panda logos on them, these items promote the importance of environmental protection and conservation to the public.

    The pair received their 500,000th visitor on February 28th.
  • Re; Taiwan's fake pandas.

    Ok, You're way too clever the story yesterday about Yuan yuan and Tuan Tuan was an April fool. The original idea came from the Taipei Times (See the link yesterday) I thought it was really funny.

    The original story was a little over board so I decided to make it a little more believable.

    Lots of people googled for the story and we had triple the normal amount of visitors. I hope some of them join us in our thirst for knowledge on pandas. So if you are one of those welcome.
  • Outrage at Taiwan's fake pandas

    The Taipei Times is running a story about how the pandas sent last December to Taiwan are not in fact pandas but are Wenzhou brown bears.

    Keepers have become increasing suspicious over the months as new hair growth has a more brownish colour but were told by officials to keep it quiet.

    This could be a political land mine waiting to go off.
  • Taipei Zoo visitors losing interest

    Reuters is reporting that Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are not pulling the crowds as they first were. Around 5,000 to 8,000 visitors are seeing them each day.

    The reasons put forward are :
    Limited interest. (Some people aren't interested in Giant Pandas. That I don't under stand :) )
    People fear that the crowds will be too big so aren't visiting.
    Unfavourable weather.
    No school holidays.

    We'll just have to see what happens when the schools break up. At least the pandas get a bit of peace and quiet.
  • Taipei Zoo alters panda viewing schedule

    The Taipei times is reporting that zoo officials at Taipei zoo are allowing less visitors to see Giant Pandas Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan on weekdays. From 400 people every 10 minutes to 300 giving more space for each visitor and encouraging people to visit the pandas on weekend.

    Visitors will also be able to see the pandas without getting a ticket from the main gates, by waiting in a special line and staff will allow them to go in when there is space.

    More than half a million people have seen the pair since they first went on display in January 2009.
  • Half a million visitors see Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan

    On February 28th 2009 a primary school student from Changhua County was the 500,000 person to visit the pandas at Taipei Zoo, Taiwan. He was awarded a stuffed animal toy, stationary and a book to celebrate the occasion.

    The zoo's director Jason Yeh said that the pandas remained in good health despite their big audience limited to 22,000 a day.

    Tuan Tuan currently weighs 108KG and Yuan Yuan lost a little weight as she's just finished estrus and weighs 103.6 KG

    The pair first went on public display on January 26th 2009
  • Taipei zoo cuts number of panda visitors

    In the week since the infamous Taiwan pandas went on display 175,386 people have visited the zoo. With many of them visiting the pandas as well. This was due partly to the week being the annual lunar new year.

    Now that the holiday is over the zoo is reducing the number of visitors to see the pandas each day to 19,200 and reducing the time the panda house will be open (9:10am - 5pm).
  • No flash Please

    Pictures Copyright Central News Agency 2009

    Visitors to Taipei zoo are being urged not to use flashes when taking photos of the pandas to avoid scaring the 2 beautiful creatures.

    The zoo director Jason Yeh has said "We'll continue a publicity campaign to advise visitors not to use camera flashes when they take pictures of the pandas or even of other animals in the zoo so as not to scare or disturb them."
  • Taiwan Pair pre-view

    On Saturday January 24th the president of Taiwan and 500 school children got a viewing of the infamous pandas, a couple of days before they were due to go on public display Monday (26th).

    It is expected that 22,000 people a day will pour through their glass house to view the pair.

    Glad I'm not them.
  • Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan on display January 26th

    The new panda house at Taipei Taiwan which houses the infamous pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan will be open to the public on the first day of the Chinese New Year (January 26th)

    I'm sure that the zoo will be extremely busy that day and the following ones as well as the pair have become start in Taiwan.
  • Taiwan Pandas Loose 4kg each in weight.

    Since Tuan Tuan and Yang Yang arrived in Taiwan they have lost about 4kgs each due to the relocation with them eating just 15kg of bamboo between them while they usually eat 40kg a day each.

    Keepers expect that the pandas will return to their normal eating patterns with a couple of weeks as they get use to the new bamboo, their keepers and their new environment.

    When they moved they also took a two week supply of bamboo with them which was grown locally to them in Bifengxia. They have begun to eat bamboo grown from different areas of Taiwan to find which is their favourite.
  • Yuan Yuan, and Tuan Tuan, leave for new home

    It took years of political talking and the building of a new panda home in Taiwan, but finally Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are on their way to their new home.

    Their keepers gave them breakfast and moved them into their transporting crates then gave them some bamboo for the long journey. Local children performed a dance in celebration of the move. Then they were loaded in a truck and driven to Chengdu. Locals along the way waved and threw flowers to wish them well on their journey.
  • Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan arrive safely

    Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan have arrived safely at the airport in Taiwan and have gone through quarantine examinations at the airport. They are now in a truck being taken to their new home escorted by a police escort. Once they arrive they will be left to rest.
  • Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan set to move on Dec 23rd

    After nearly 4 years of planning and negotions Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan are set to move to Taiwan on Dec 23rd.

    The pair will be transported by Taiwan Airliner EVA Air The airline company has arranged a Boeing 747-400 plane for the pair. They will stay in a 180-square-meter chamber equipped with air conditioners to provide a comfortable temperature and humidity, he said.

    Feeders and veterinarians can visit them during the journey so that they would not be frightened.
  • Yuan Yuan, and Tuan Tuan set to go to Taiwan in December

    In the continuing story of Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan, they are now set to arrive in Taiwan in December. After a month in quarantine they should be on public display for the spring festival (Jan 26th)
  • New home ready for Tuantuan and Yuanyuan

    It seems that the new panda house for the pair of pandas (Tuantuan and Yuanyuan) going to Taipei, Taiwan is ready and waiting for their new family. There will be a public announcement later this week to say when the pair will arrive, but they are expected to leave their current home at the end of this month and will arrive early next. There will be a period when the pandas will not be seen by the adoring public and expected to go on public view early next year.

    I hope you like your new home Tuantuan and Yuanyuan.