Delegates discuss panda practicalities
By Huang Zhiling (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-29 05:34

WOLONG, Sichuan Province: Holding a panda in his arms, Hong Wen-dong, an animal expert from Taipei, couldn't hold back his childlike enthusiasm at the Wolong Nature Reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Hong Wendong, leader of 17 experts from Taiwan, poses with a giant panda at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong August 27, 2005. [newsphoto]

"Taiwan people have dreamed of introducing a giant panda from the mainland for many years," said Hong.

Hong, head of a 17-member Taiwan delegation, made the remarks on Saturday at a cross-Straits meeting attended by mainland forestry officials, panda experts and 17 animal researchers from Taiwan to discuss issues pertaining to the gifted pandas to Taiwan from Wolong.

The issues covered included the panda house, pandas' breeding technology, disease prevention and treatment, their daily life and reproduction.

The Chinese mainland announced plans to send giant pandas to Taiwan following the mainland visit of the island's opposition Kuomintang Party Chairman Lien Chan in May.

Taiwanese compatriots are eager to see the pandas arrive. A recent opinion poll conducted by the Taipei-based Association of Friends of Zoos, which is headed by Hong, showed that 99 per cent of people on the island welcomed the arrival of pandas from the mainland, Hong said.

A panda house is being built at Taipei Zoo, he added.

The house is expected to be completed at the end of this year. If the pandas arrive in Taiwan next March, locals could see them as early as next June, he said.

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