Pang Kin‑yee, Chairman of the Board of Hong Kong Ocean Park Corporation, announced on the 24th that as of June this year, the Hong Kong‑born panda twins “Jia Jia” and “De De” have both grown to approximately 23 kilograms.
On the same day, during a joint media visit organized by the All‑China Journalists Association, the Hong Kong Journalists Association, the Macao Journalists Association, and the Guangdong Journalists Association as part of the “Dreaming Together for Development” Greater Bay Area media event, reporters came to Hong Kong Ocean Park to learn about giant panda conservation and the “panda economy” in Hong Kong.
At the park’s “Giant Panda Adventure” pavilion, “Jia Jia” and “De De” were still “sleeping in” when the media arrived. After about five or six minutes, “Jia Jia” emerged slowly from the “bedroom” area and walked toward the play area. At the connecting passageway, “Jia Jia” plopped down, while “De De” poked its head out and trotted toward the play area. The adorable behavior of the two cubs made the reporters exclaim with delight and quickly pick up their cameras.
Staff introduced that “Jia Jia” has a shy and reserved character, often seen quietly climbing trees, while “De De” is energetic and active, frequently seeking to play with their mother, “Ying Ying.” The staff described the cubs as being in a period of “explosive” growth. In addition to nursing from their mother, the two cubs also consume between 400 and 550 grams of formula each day to ensure healthy development.
Hong Kong currently has a total of 6 giant pandas, and how to further develop the “panda economy” became a focus of media attention during the visit. Pang Kin‑yee stated that the giant panda has become a “name card” for Hong Kong Ocean Park. During the May Day holidays in mainland China this year, visitor numbers increased by nearly 40% year‑on‑year, and total revenue grew by over 40%. Currently, the park offers more than 500 products for sale, over half of which are related to giant pandas.
Pang emphasized that to further promote the “panda economy,” the park is actively expanding its IP, “Panda Friends,” and partnering with a range of Hong Kong and international brands to launch products such as biscuits, jewelry, and apparel accessories, aiming to cater to diverse customer needs.