Asia-Pacific

Pandas released to new enclosure in Australia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-13 22:09

Pandas released to new enclosure in Australia
Wang Wang, a four-year-old male giant panda, eats fruit and vegetables in its new enclosure at Adelaide Zoo in the South Australia state November 28, 2009. [Agencies]

ADELAIDE, Australia: China's giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi released to their new enclosure in Australia's Adelaide Zoo for the first time on Sunday.

The new settlers remained unfazed by the suits and cameras - instead chewing their favorite bamboo in the 35 million dollars (US$32 million) giant panda enclosure, the Bamboo Forest.

"For Wang Wang and Funi, I think this is going to be a normal panda day. They'll eat some choice Australian bamboo, they'll get to know their new Australian friends a little bit better and they' ll do what pandas do - which means they'll relax, they'll lounge around, they'll probably snooze." Chief executive of Zoos SA Dr Chris West told the official guests ahead of the opening.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce addressed her comments to the pandas. "Feel free to eat while I speak," she assured the munching new arrivals.

"You've come to a country where we welcome people from almost every nation on earth, without judging where they've come from or why." Holding a panda doll, Bryce told Xinhua she is so in love with the two giant pandas which look very adorable.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Zhang Junsai said the giant pandas were viewed as a symbol of peace in China and their presence could "transcend borders, race and time". "Wang Wang and Funi carry the friendship and greetings from Chinese people," he told the gathering.

"As the first pandas in the southern hemisphere they will be an important part of exchanges of our two countries." Zhang said the pandas will attract some 1.3 million Australian visitors and 260, 000 overseas tourists.

Zoos SA president Heather Caddick said the pandas were expected to inject some 630 million dollars (575 million US dollars) into the state's economy over the 10-year period.

The pandas were seen by invited guests of the zoo on Sunday. The wider public will have their first opportunity to see Wang Wang and Funi from Monday. The pandas will spend 10 years in Australia, according to an agreement by the governments of the two countries.