Pandas Send-off to Spain from Chengdu Research Base
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The pair of Giant Pandas, 7 year old male Bing Xing and 4 year old female Hua Zui Ba were sent to Barcelona, Spain on Friday, on loan by China from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding as a goodwill gesture following a visit to Beijing earlier this year by Spain’s King. Bing Xing, whose name means ‘Star of Ice’, weighs 308 pounds (140 kilos), and his mate Hua Zui Ba, whose name means ‘Cuty Lips’ weighs about 205 pounds (93 kilos).
The cuddly pair of Giant Pandas will remain in Madrid’s zoo for 10 years, after an agreement was reached in June during King Juan Carlos’ visit.
Unique to China, Giant Pandas are among the rarest animals in the world and are considered China’s unofficial national mascot. With only about 1,590 Pandas left in the wild, most are from the western provinces of Sichuan and the Shaanxi.
Sarah M. Bexell, the PhD Director of Conservation Education at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding invited my contact in China to the event for this exclusive story, who was able to capture photos and video clips.
Sarah has been in Chengdu at the Research Center for about 8 years, and had previously been assigned to the Atlanta Zoo in Georgia, where the 2 American Pandas are housed.
Sarah Bexell works towards educating the world about conservation ideas and particularly with concerns affecting the Giant Panda species. She works closely with schools and teachers to help educate the new generations. Sarah absolutely loves her job and feels blessed to be in such close contact with these gentle creatures.
Of course there are mixed feelings in seeing these two Pandas leave for a new home in Barcelona, Spain, but she knows they will be cared for and have a chance to breed. Additionally, they will help further educate the many people that will visit them in their new home.
Giant Pandas arrive safely in Spain
Bing Xing and Hua Zui Ba arrived at Madrid’s Barajas airport, after leaving their home in the southwest city of Chengdu on Friday. They stayed overnight in Shanghai before their long intercontinental flight.
Photo Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Photo Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Chinese government occasionally sends Pandas abroad as a sign of warm diplomatic relations or to mark diplomatic breakthroughs.
A designated area measuring 11,840 sq. feet (1,100 sq. meters), including separate outdoor gardens for each panda, a central pagoda, bathing pools, medical facilities and a kitchen area has been prepared for the Pandas in Madrid’s zoo.
Financial details of the arrangement with Spain were not revealed. China uses payments from zoos around the world that host lent Pandas to fund extensive and expensive research and breeding programs.
All Panda cubs born overseas as a result from lent animals remain China’s property. About 210 cubs have been bred in captivity, with more than 20 Pandas born in captivity in China last year.
In 1983, the Madrid zoo saw the birth of Chu Lin, the first Panda cub to be born using artificial insemination in Europe. Chu Lin lived for 13 years.
Female Pandas are typically sexually mature between ages 4 and 5 years old. Under ideal conditions, they can become pregnant once a year and give birth to 1 or 2 cubs at a time.
Torch Bearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
The first group of Torch Bearers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games comes from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Photo Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Sichuan candidates include Giant Panda keeper Shibin, Gongjinyuan, Yangtao and Zhouyitian, who were the first fortunate people to make it through every level of the selection process and are now the first group of torch bearers from Sichuan for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Pandas Bing Xing and Hua Zuiba – 1
The pair of Pandas prior to send-off from
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to Spain.
Pandas Bing Xing and Hua Zuiba – 2
Bing Xing chews and spews bamboo, with a brief glimpse of Hua Zui Ba.
CCTV has an excellent video of the Panda’s arrival and the birthday celebrations of several other Pandas on loan.
Spain arrival source: Chengdu Research Base
All photos other than the arrival of the Giant Pandas are property of a contact in China who wishes to remain anonymous and may not be used without permission.
Copyright 2007 Life in the Fast Lane
Related stories:
Hug a Panda
Have You Got What it Takes to Carry the Olympic Torch
Wow! that’s a long trip for Pandas. I wonder what they did think about it?
I hope they’ll like the weather in Spain – I long for going there
Another great article Deborah. I get the feeling you’ll get lots of reader hits with this one. And wow, those Panda’s are sooooo cute. Did you know these Giant Panda’s evolved to grow an added finger to their paws. This is how they can grip the bamboo so effectively.
Also, did you know that while Panda females are only fertile one day a year, sometimes the fertility is only during a 60 minute period of time. Only 1 hour during a whole year.
Kinda puts some heavy duty pressure on the guys huh?
Deborah,
What great photos! I am always concerned about rare animals when they are forced to travel. Sometimes I wonder if they shouldn’t just be left alone.
They are a special creature – that is for sure.
Always,
Catherine, the redhead
the President of China has just lent the Australian Government 2 Pandas too !!!!!!…… we are keeping our fingers crossed that they have offspring…..
great article Deborah
Nothing was mentioned about the effects on the Pandas Captain, but the photo of their arrival shows that one of them appears to be curious at least. They receive a lot of care and attention, so I’m sure it was a well thought out and safe journey for them.
Thanks Nitropuppy, I love the close-up shots of them
Actually, I do recall reading something about their additional finger now that you mention it, but had forgotten about that. Thanks for mentioning it.
OMG, is it any wonder they’re so near extinction?! As little as 60 minutes window of fertility … amazing!
Thanks Catherine
From what I’ve gleaned from reading articles on lending the Pandas, it’s mainly for political purposes and to help educate other parts of the world about this rare animal. The Reserve places a lot of emphasis on their safety, so it’s unlikely that they’d take any calculated risks to send them to other parts of the world.
Kim, I wasn’t aware! I just found an article from September 6 that touches on it. It will be the first time they’ve sent Giant Pandas to anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere, and they’re destined for the Adelaide Zoo in 2009. Cool!
Aaaw…the kids on stage portraying pandas and bamboo look sooooo adorable!!!
I love that photo myself Charme, they are incredibly adorable
[...] and endangered species our planet has to offer, here are a series of progressive photos of a Giant Panda — native only to China — from day 1 through to day [...]
The low mutability of wild genes was distinctly increased, but the comparatively high mutability occurring with some of the already mutated genes was not, or at any rate was much less, increased. ,