Giant pandas 'stable with good appetite'

Ayra Wang

The pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government are in stable condition and have a good appetite in their new home at Ocean Park, and are expected to meet the public by mid-December.

An An and Ke Ke arrived in Hong Kong last Thursday and are currently undergoing a 30-day quarantine in designated rooms before they can enter their new habitat at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures within the theme park.

"An An has adapted more quickly due to his active nature and love for exploring, while Ke Ke is more cautious and tends to be nervous around new experiences," said Ocean Park.

To aid in her acclimatization, Ke Ke has been placed in a training-care cage, allowing caretakers to feed and interact with her at a close distance.

The park also released videos showing the pandas' current condition: An An sitting on the ground munching on bamboo, and Ke Ke comfortably lying in her cage enjoying carrots.

The park expressed confidence in the 30-member care team's ability to look after all six pandas, including the recently born panda twins, asserting that the smaller size of the new habitats will not hinder their adaptation.

"The habitat was specially designed to accommodate pandas and meet required standards," the park said."Giant pandas actually need a safe space rather than a large one."

Meanwhile, to assist the pandas in adjusting to their new names - part of a citywide naming contest - the team plans to train them using rewards of their favorite foods.Currently, the pandas are receiving four meals a day.