Panda cub Nuan Nuan to return to China - Zoo Negara

Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat Lana said, based on an agreement between Malaysia and China, the panda cub was to be returned to the Republic when she turns two.

"We are currently waiting for directives from the government of China in scheduling Nuan Nuan's return latest before November.

"This is as in November, it is winter in China and Nuan Nuan may not be able to adapt to her surroundings as she grew in Malaysia which has no snow," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He said, for now, the public could still visit the panda cub and her parents, Liang Liang and Xing Xing, at Zoo Negara's Giant Panda Conservatory Centre.

According to Rosly, to enable Nuan Nuan to adapt living independently, she has been separated from her mother, Liang Liang, and since several months ago has stopped depending on her mother's milk.

"We will celebrate the pandas birthdays on Aug 18 and 23, serving them a specially-made birthday cake that combines apples, watermelon and bananas," he added.

Nuan Nuan, meaning 'friendliness' in Mandarin, was born in GPCC, on Aug 18, 2015, about 15 months after her parents lived in Malaysia.

The giant panda couple that were previously known as Fu Wa and Feng Yi, were loaned by China as a symbol of 40 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.

The giant panda couple arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014, and were housed in GPCC that was specially built for them.