Ocean Park all ready to welcome new giant pandas

Ocean Park said it has been preparing to welcome new giant pandas, but it is still waiting for the mainland's decision with the help of the SAR government in discussion on the issue. 

The two giant pandas in the park, Ying Ying and Le Le, which were sent in 2007 as a gift for the 10th anniversary of the handover, are already 18 years old. 

The park said inheritance is important. It is also believed that it would be a great event for the government if Hong Kong could welcome more pandas. 

The central government sent two giant pandas, An An and Jia Jia, to the park in 1999, but they passed away in 2022 and 2016, respectively. They were the oldest male and female giant pandas in captivity, which the park said proved its excellent ability to take care of giant pandas.

Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee said the number of people visiting the park in the eight-day Lunar New Year period has increased by 37 percent compared to last year's figure, which saw the highest attendance in the post-pandemic era on February 12.

The per capita spending had also recorded a year-on-year growth of 19 percent.