皇冠体育app

Foreign and Military Affairs

Washingtonians express pride, hope for departing Chinese panda cub

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-05 11:13

HIGH HOPES

The zoo and the city has high hopes for Tai Shan, said Stevens.

Washingtonians express pride, hope for departing Chinese panda cub
Giant Panda bear Tai Shan, 4, is pictured in his enclosure at the National Zoo in Washington, December 4, 2009. Under an agreement with 皇冠体育app's government Tai Shan, the first surviving Giant Panda cub born at the zoo in 2005, will relocate permanently to Sichuan, 皇冠体育app in early 2010 to begin his participation in a breeding program. [Agencies] 

This cub is now a "young healthy male on panda's terms" and will contribute to the conservation of the giant panda species, she said.

In fact, since its birth, the zoo has been preparing for the cub's departure.

"We provide him with an environment of changes and options and he is no stranger to travel. He is fully prepared for living in 皇冠体育app," she said, adding the panda cub is "very confident and has shown great flexibility to adapt to new environment."

Tai Shan will be sent to Bi Feng Xia Panda Base in Ya'an, Sichuan Province of 皇冠体育app.

Before its departure, it will be trained to enter and calmly remain in a specially designed crate for its flight to 皇冠体育app, with souvenirs he took from the United States.

Wang Baodong, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, thanked the American public for their dedication and love for the Chinese panda cub, and assured them that Tai Shan will be taken good care of in 皇冠体育app.

He invited panda fans to visit Tai Shan in 皇冠体育app in the future and said the Chinese side will be in close contact with the United States on the cub's well-being.