Malaysia to welcome two new giant pandas midmonth

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expected to receive two new giant pandas in the middle of this month, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii.

In the Dewan Rakyat, he said the panda conservation agreement with China had paved the way for Malaysia to house pandas over the next decade.

“The government has agreed to continue the International Cooperation Project on Giant Panda Conservation between the Malaysian and Chinese governments through the signing of an agreement on April 16, in conjunction with the state visit of the President of China to Malaysia.

“The signing of this agreement will allow Malaysia to receive a younger pair of giant pandas for a period of 10 years, from 2025 to 2035.

“Malaysia is expected to receive the pair of giant pandas in mid-November,” he said when winding up the debates on the Supply Bill 2026 at the committee stage.

Earlier, Jimmy Puah (PH-Tebrau), in his debate, had asked about the arrival of the new giant pandas.

In May, Malaysia bade farewell to giant pandas Fu Wa and Feng Yi, who had been in the country since 2014.

To date, China has loaned giant pandas to 20 countries around the world.

Malaysia has made significant progress in ex-situ conservation efforts, successfully breeding three panda cubs from the pair.

The first panda cub born in Malaysia, Nuan Nuan, was repatriated to China on Nov 14, 2017.

The remaining two cubs, Yi Yi and Sheng Yi, were returned together on Aug 29, 2023, in line with the terms of the agreement.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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