Latest news with #pandas
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally get names. Meet Jia Jia and De De
HONG KONG — Hong Kong's first locally born giant panda have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De. The names of the cubs, affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother,' were announced Tuesday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally get names. Meet Jia Jia and De De
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's first locally born giant panda have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De. The names of the cubs, affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother,' were announced Tuesday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year. The names were the winning suggestions from residents in a naming contest that drew more than 35,700 entries. The Chinese character 'Jia,' from the female cub's name 'Jia Jia,' carries a message of support and features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace. The name embodies the prosperity of families and the nation and the happiness of the people, the park said. The Chinese character 'De,' from the male cub's name, means to succeed, carrying the connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. De also has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for virtue, the park said, suggesting giant pandas possess virtues cherished by Chinese people. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong said they followed tradition by using Mandarin pronunciation for the pandas' English names. He said 'Jia' sounds like a word in the Cantonese term for elder sister, while 'De De' sounds a bit like the Cantonese phrase for little brother. Cantonese is the mother language of many Hong Kongers. 'It's a very positive pair of names,' he said. 'We have to be a bit creative here with the names.' The twins' birth in August made their mother, Ying Ying, the world's oldest first-time panda mom. Their popularity among residents, visitors and on social media raised hopes for a tourism boost in the city, where politicians touted the commercial opportunities as the 'panda economy.' Observers are watching whether housing six pandas helps the park revive its business, especially when caring for the animals in captivity is expensive. Ocean Park recorded a deficit of 71.6 million Hong Kong dollars ($9.2 million) last financial year. The park recorded a nearly 40% growth in visitor flow and 40% increase in overall income during a five-day holiday beginning May 1 in mainland China, said Pong, who hopes the growth momentum will continue through summer, Halloween and Christmas seasons. Pandas are considered China's unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijing's soft-power diplomacy.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Hong Kong's baby pandas finally get names. Meet Jia Jia and De De
Hong Kong 's first locally born giant panda have finally been named and introduced as Jia Jia and De De. The names of the cubs, affectionately known as 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother,' were announced Tuesday in a ceremony at Ocean Park, the theme park housing them, their parents and two other giant pandas that arrived from mainland China last year. The names were the winning suggestions from residents in a naming contest that drew more than 35,700 entries. The Chinese character 'Jia,' from the female cub's name 'Jia Jia,' carries a message of support and features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace. The name embodies the prosperity of families and the nation and the happiness of the people, the park said. The Chinese character 'De," from the male cub's name, means to succeed, carrying the connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. De also has the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for virtue, the park said, suggesting giant pandas possess virtues cherished by Chinese people. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong said they followed tradition by using Mandarin pronunciation for the pandas' English names. He said 'Jia" sounds like a word in the Cantonese term for elder sister, while 'De De' sounds a bit like the Cantonese phrase for little brother. Cantonese is the mother language of many Hong Kongers. 'It's a very positive pair of names,' he said. 'We have to be a bit creative here with the names.' The twins' birth in August made their mother, Ying Ying, the world's oldest first-time panda mom. Their popularity among residents, visitors and on social media raised hopes for a tourism boost in the city, where politicians touted the commercial opportunities as the 'panda economy.' Observers are watching whether housing six pandas helps the park revive its business, especially when caring for the animals in captivity is expensive. Ocean Park recorded a deficit of 71.6 million Hong Kong dollars ($9.2 million) last financial year. The park recorded a nearly 40% growth in visitor flow and 40% increase in overall income during a five-day holiday beginning May 1 in mainland China, said Pong, who hopes the growth momentum will continue through summer, Halloween and Christmas seasons. Pandas are considered China's unofficial national mascot. The country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been seen as a tool of Beijing's soft-power diplomacy.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Jia Jia and De De chosen as names for Hong Kong's twin panda cubs
Hong Kong's nine-month-old twin panda cubs have been named Jia Jia for 'Elder Sister' and De De for 'Younger Brother', which reflect good virtue in Chinese culture. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Tuesday the results of the panda naming contest, which received more than 35,700 entries from members of the public since submissions opened in February. 'All suggestions reflected beautiful blessings for the giant pandas,' she said. 03:07 Twin giant pandas greet excited public for the first time at Hong Kong's Ocean Park Twin giant pandas greet excited public for the first time at Hong Kong's Ocean Park Ocean Park said that the nicknames 'Elder Sister' and 'Younger Brother' would be kept as usual, while the Mandarin pinyin of the selected Chinese names would be adopted as the English names of the twin cubs. On the same day, the cubs and their mother Ying Ying will be moved to the Alpine Zone of their enclosure at the Giant Panda Adventure. The enclosure will be open from 10am to 4.30pm daily starting Wednesday for visitors to catch the twins together with their mother. The panda twin cubs made their public debut on February 16. Photo: Eugene Lee The twins' father, giant panda Le Le, is housed at the Giant Panda Adventure but separate from Ying Ying and her baby twins, in line with their natural solitary behaviour, according to Ocean Park.
NHK
25-05-2025
- NHK
Final day of outdoor display of pandas at Japanese zoo before transfer to China
Visitors flocked to a theme park in western Japan on Sunday for the last opportunity to get an up-close look at four giant pandas that are set to be transferred to China. The four female pandas at the park in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, are scheduled to be sent to China on June 28, as the contract of a joint project is set to expire in August. Sunday is the last day for visitors to be able to see the pandas outdoors. The pandas will then be on view to the public only at glass-enclosed indoor facilities from Monday through June 27, one day before their scheduled departure. A woman in her 20s said that she was close enough to hear the animals munching bamboo, so she felt sad that no one would be able to see them outdoors again. She added that she would like to visit again to see the pandas through glass, before they are sent to China.
