Panda duo for Taiwan starts cohabitation life
10/1/2006 7:57
The giant panda couple chosen as gifts for Taiwan compatriots began their
cohabitation life at the weekend even before they are "married."
They are now
specially arranged to live in one room at the Wolong Giant Panda Preserve and
Research Center.
Wei rongping, director assistant of the center located in
Sichuan Province, said the cohabitation was deliberately designed to "enhance
the affection between the two cubs."
"We have moved No. 16 and 19 out of
their kindergarten and made a new home for the two giant pandas, and now they
belong to each other," Wei said.
Their new house measures about 600 square
meters. The bedroom is directly connected with a playground, which is equipped
with wooden shelves, rockeries and a pond.
Wei said the playground is built
to facilitate exercise for the two little creatures so as to strengthen their
physique.
Li guo, raiser of the bridegroom-to-be Xiaoguaiguai, meaning little
darling in Chinese, said the two cubs love to play together.
"Interestingly,
the two cubs started to hug each other to sleep since last night, which is quite
rare among giant pandas," Li said.
Zhang hemin, director of the center, said
like human beings, giant pandas also have psychological problems. "Some are
quite active while others are not gregarious."
What is more important, the
panda expert added is that most adult giant pandas are more or less eccentric
and very picky about their sexual partner.
Thus their oestrum and mating must
be performed by mutual consent, otherwise the two animals turn to attack each
other.
"So it is quite necessary to further develop their love," Zhang
said.
He said the two giant pandas will become sexually mature at the age of
four or five, and there need be no worries that they will give birth before they
are "officially married."
To take good care of the couple, the Wolong center
has set up a special team, including a nutritionist, a vet and two
raisers.
Xinhua
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