A pair of pandas off to Memphis |
http://www.sina.com.cn 2003/03/20 11:43 Shanghai Daily |
Le Le, the 4-year-old giant panda and star attraction at the Shanghai Zoo, will say goodbye to the city on April 5 when he takes off for a 10-year stay in Memphis, Tennessee. Le Le will be joined on the trip by Ya Ya, a 2-year-old female giant panda from the Beijing Zoo. The pair will leave Beijing for the United States on April 7.Chinese and American experts will carry out research on the two pandas during their stay in the United States, reported Xinhua news agency, citing Xie Zhong of the China Zoo Association. To prepare for the trip, Le Le was put under quarantine earlier this month and zookeepers have changed his diet to help him adapt to the food he will eat in America. "The amount of 'wowotou,' a traditional Chinese food made of corn paste, has been decreased," said animal keeper Yang Tinghui, who has taken care of Le Le for three years. "In addition to bamboo, we have added 1,200 grams of a special biscuit every day as that is the food he will eat in the United States." "Le Le likes the new diet quite well," Yang said. "We will miss Le Le very much. He is quiet, gentle and likes human beings." Le Le was born in Sichuan Province on July 18, 1998. Six months later, he was brought back to live with his father Chuan Chuan at the Shanghai Zoo. With Le Le leaving, the zoo is faced with the task of finding another panda as it will only house Chuan Chuan, who is already 23 years old. The average lifespan of giant pandas is around 25 years. |
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