The two giant pandas gifted by the central government, “An An” and “Ke Ke,” have settled into their new home in Hong Kong for a week. Their current food intake, bowel movements, and rest periods are similar to those at their base in Sichuan. On the afternoon of the 3rd, Hong Kong Ocean Park held a briefing where the panda care team shared insights into their care.
A video released by Hong Kong Ocean Park shows “An An” with a healthy appetite, sitting on the ground eating bamboo while occasionally playing with it. In contrast, “Ke Ke” sits on the ground enjoying some carrots.
Liang Jialun, the Assistant Curator of the Animal Department at Hong Kong Ocean Park, noted that “An An” is lively and enjoys exploring its new surroundings, quickly accepting new experiences. “Ke Ke” is more sensitive to the new environment and tends to withdraw when caregivers approach, but it is very curious about sounds. Currently, both pandas trust their caregivers and can recognize their voices and scents.
It has been reported that “An An” and “Ke Ke” are now being fed four meals daily and have adapted to eating bamboo sourced from Guangdong. The proportion of Guangdong bamboo in their diet has increased from 30-40% to 60-70% compared to the Sichuan bamboo they were used to.
Zhu Xiaozhong, the Animal and Conservation Supervisor at Hong Kong Ocean Park, stated that both pandas are showing normal appetite and behavior and are in stable condition. The care team and veterinarians monitor their food intake and bowel movements daily, closely observing their behavior. A comprehensive health check will be arranged, allowing them to explore natural plants and use climbing structures to develop different natural behaviors.
To help the two pandas overcome “homesickness” and adapt better to their new environment, Liang Jialun traveled to Sichuan in mid-July to interact with them. He revealed that during their sound adaptation training, caregivers will primarily use Cantonese, while addressing them by name in Mandarin or Sichuan dialect. “Through daily conversations, we hope that ‘An An’ and ‘Ke Ke’ can recognize their voices, thereby establishing a connection and enhancing mutual trust and a sense of security.”
To welcome the two new residents, the Hong Kong SAR government launched a naming campaign on the 2nd, encouraging the community to contribute ideas for suitable names for the pandas.
Liang Jialun indicated that if the pandas receive new names in the future, caregivers will initially use both the original and new names during training, coupled with positive reinforcement, to help them familiarize themselves with their new names. He is confident that “An An” and “Ke Ke” will gradually adapt.
Zhu Xiaozhong mentioned that “An An” and “Ke Ke” are currently undergoing a 30-day quarantine period, followed by approximately another month to adjust to a different area. They are expected to meet the public by December, though a more precise timeline will depend on their adaptation progress.