Across China: Taiwan

Pandas losing weight

Two giant pandas, goodwill gifts from the mainland to the island, have lost weight since their arrival in Taipei last week because of a different diet and lack of exercise, a zoo official said yesterday.

Male panda Tuan Tuan had shed about 2 kg (4.4 lb) and female Yuan Yuan nearly 3 kg as the natives of the fog-shrouded mountains of southwest China grappled with Taiwan's bamboo shoots and smaller living space, zoo research officer Chin Shih-chien said.