Malaysian-born panda cub returns to China

CHENGDU -- The first Malaysian-born giant panda Nuan Nuan arrived at the Dujiangyan base of the China conservation and research center for the giant pandas in southwest China's Sichuan Province Wednesday.

Keepers said Nuan Nuan was tired after the long journey, and was reluctant to leave her transit crate until she was offered food. She will remain in quarantine for a month before meeting the public.

Nuan Nuan, meaning warmth in Chinese, was born on Aug. 18, 2015 to two pandas on loan to the giant panda conservation center at the Malaysian national zoo. Nuan Nuan's parents are continuing their stay in Malaysia.

Under the agreement between China and overseas giant panda hosts, panda cubs born to parents on loan must be returned to China when they are two years old.

US-born panda Bao Bao, now four years old, returned to China in February and is also at Dujiangyan.

Bao Bao (Treasure) was born on Aug. 23, 2013 at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C., the second panda born there.

The China panda breeding center has collaborations with 13 zoos in 11 countries, including Austria, Japan and Thailand.