Two giant pandas, Jin Xi and Zhu Yu, have arrived in Madrid, Spain, marking the beginning of a 10-year stay in the European country.
The pandas traveled from their home in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, aboard a charter flight that landed at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas International Airport on Monday. Upon arrival, the Madrid Zoo Aquarium's veterinary and conservation team, along with officials from Spain's Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), warmly welcomed them.
A special dinner featuring freshly-cut bamboo shoots was prepared to greet the new additions to the zoo. The pandas will undergo a quarantine period of about a month and are expected to meet the public in late May, conditions permitting.
To ensure a comfortable living environment, the zoo has conducted thorough safety inspections and upgraded all facilities and equipment in the panda enclosure. Chinese experts visited Madrid ahead of the pandas' arrival to inspect their new home. The pandas will stay for approximately three months to fully adapt to their new surroundings.
Yang Kuixing, a Chinese giant panda breeding expert, stated, "Both pandas were born in 2020, making them nearly four years old. They are very healthy and well-developed, which is why we selected them for Spain."
China and Spain have maintained a cooperative agreement since 2007 to promote giant panda protection and advance bilateral efforts in preserving endangered species and biodiversity. This collaboration has successfully bred six panda cubs who have grown up under the program.
Earlier this March, giant pandas Bing Xing and Hua Zuiba, along with their offspring Chulina, Jiu Jiu, and You You, returned to the Chinese mainland from Spain. These pandas, symbols of friendship between the Chinese and Spanish people, were beloved by locals.
"We felt a little sad to say goodbye to the five giant pandas living in Madrid. We had been with them for a long time, so it was hard for us to say goodbye. But now we are very happy and looking forward to welcoming a new pair of giant pandas. We are about to start a new chapter," said Maria Delclaux, who oversees the giant panda enclosure at the zoo.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
