Other than the tigers, the main attraction of Zoo Negara would definitely be the pandas!
But did you know that the pandas in our zoo, Fu Wa and Feng Yi (renamed to Xing Xing and Liang Liang) are actually loaned to us by the Chinese Government for 10 years since 2014? Together, they had 3 babies, Nuan Nuan (sent back to China), Yi Yi and Sheng Yi.
Yi Yi and Sheng Yi’s return date was originally set for May, however, multiple circumstances have caused the date to be delayed again and again.
Zoo Negara deputy director Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana told BERNAMA that there is no official date yet due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in China.
“It has been postponed twice, three times this year due to the COVID-19 situation in China, but both pandas will still be returned….maybe at the end of this year or early next year, depending on the Chinese government’s decision.”
Xing Xing and Liang Liang were loaned to Malaysia under the International Giant Panda Conservation Agreement which allowed Malaysia to conduct research on the pandas as well as train local experts.
2024 marks the end of the loan period and the government is looking to extend it.
“Our contract stipulates 10 plus 10, so now the government is negotiating to extend the contract, but maybe not up to 10 years.”
We certainly hope that the panda couple and their babies will stay a little bit longer!
Also read: Baby Panda Has Adorable Playtime With Zoo Negara Keeper, M’sians Fall In Love
