Hong Kong’s panda cubs are nearly two months old, with their own distinctive features starting to emerge. Visitors can also buy a panda headband for HK$125, or a stuffed toy panda cradling a cub for HK$390. In mainland China, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province attracted 264,000 visitors during the recent National Day “golden week” holiday. South Korea is often cited as an example of successfully boosting a panda economy with Fu Bao, the country’s first naturally bred giant panda as part of a loan agreement with China. In Japan, a similar nationwide sensation was sparked in 2017, when Xiang Xiang became the first locally born giant panda in Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo in nearly three decades.

Source: The Star October 12, 2024 06:15 UTC