Hong Kong has received two giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, from Beijing, marking a significant addition to the territory’s panda population. This arrival coincides with Finland’s decision to return its this animals, Lumi and Pyry, earlier than expected due to financial challenges.
An An and Ke Ke landed in Hong Kong amid a festive welcome at the international airport, where officials greeted them with a red carpet and panda-themed toys. This brings the total number of pandas in Hong Kong to six, the highest number ever recorded in the city. The 5-year-old pandas will be housed at Ocean Park, where they will remain out of public view until December to acclimate to their new environment.
Boosting Tourism: The “Pandas Economy”
Lawmakers in Hong Kong are calling for initiatives to leverage the new animals to enhance tourism. They propose creating a “panda economy” that includes themed promotions and infrastructure to attract visitors. The local government is also organizing a public contest to name the new arrivals.
The arrival of An An and Ke Ke coincides with a momentous occasion at Ocean Park, where resident panda Ying Ying recently gave birth to twin cubs. At nearly 19 years old, Ying Ying set a record as the oldest panda to give birth for the first time. The cubs are currently under intensive care and will make their public debut in the coming months.
Finland’s Financial Challenges
In a contrasting move, Finland announced it would return this animals, Lumi and Pyry, to China in November, nearly eight years ahead of the originally agreed 15-year stay. The decision came as Ahtari Zoo, where the pandas are housed, faced significant financial difficulties. The zoo invested over 8 million euros in the panda facility but has struggled with annual costs of 1.5 million euros, exacerbated by the pandemic and rising inflation.
Background of the Pandas Agreement
The pandas were sent to Finland in January 2018, following a joint agreement aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties between Finland and China. However, as the zoo accumulated debts and sought financial support from the Finnish government—which was ultimately denied—the return of this animals became inevitable.
The contrasting situations of Hong Kong welcoming new pandas while Finland prepares to return its bears highlight the complexities of international panda diplomacy and the financial realities of maintaining these beloved animals in captivity.
More: https://exploration-echo.com/2024/08/18/the-magic-of-dogs-empathy/