Macao's Municipal Affairs Bureau has confirmed that the animals will move to the mainland in October to further their development.
Macao’s giant panda twins to relocate to Chengdu
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Macao’s resident giant panda twins, Jian Jian and Kang Kang, are set to leave the city this October, heading to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for the next stage of their development.
The twins, who marked their tenth birthday this past Saturday, will be relocated to the mainland facility to provide them with a more natural habitat suited to their needs as they reach adulthood, the Macau Daily Times reported.
Chao Wai Ieng, president of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, announced the decision at an event at Seac Pai Van Park. He confirmed that a dedicated team in Chengdu was prepared to assist Macao’s giant panda twins with their acclimatisation. Upon arrival, the pandas will undergo at least one month of quarantine before moving into an upgraded pavilion designed to replicate a natural environment.
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Whether the relocation is permanent remains to be seen, the Times said. The bureau stated that the pandas now fall under unified national management, and any future decisions regarding their residence will depend on close coordination with the central government.
Macao’s giant panda twins spark welfare debate
At present, the bureau has no plans to bring new giant pandas to Macao.
According to the Times, this shift in the city’s panda programme comes amid long-standing debate concerning the welfare of giant pandas in Macao. Since 2014, animal welfare groups have voiced concerns that the city’s subtropical, humid climate is ill-suited to the animals, suggesting it may increase their adaptive stress compared to their natural habitats.
