Hong Kong is buzzing with excitement as it welcomes a new pair of giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, a generous gift from Beijing. The arrival of these five-year-old pandas adds to the city’s growing panda family, which now includes the recently born twins and their father, Le Le. This brings the total number of pandas residing in Hong Kong to a delightful six.
This latest addition is expected to have a significant impact on tourism, with industry representatives already expressing enthusiasm about the potential for increased visitor numbers. Hong Kong officials are encouraging businesses to capitalize on the “panda economy,” leveraging the undeniable charm of these furry ambassadors to attract more tourists.
The pandas will undergo a two-month quarantine period at Ocean Park before settling into their new home. Chief Executive John Lee is optimistic that the public will be able to meet the pandas by mid-December. To further engage the community, the government has announced plans to invite residents to suggest names for the pandas, reflecting their unique personalities.
Giant pandas, considered China’s unofficial national mascot, have become a powerful symbol of the country’s soft-power diplomacy through panda loan programs with zoos around the world. However, caring for these charismatic creatures in captivity can be expensive, as evidenced by the Finnish zoo that returned its pandas to China due to financial constraints.
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has a long history of hosting pandas, dating back to 1999. The park holds the world record for the oldest panda to have lived in captivity, Jia Jia, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 38. With the arrival of An An and Ke Ke, Hong Kong is poised to continue its tradition of providing a loving home for these treasured animals, while also embracing the economic and cultural benefits they bring.
