Panda pair shows signs of wanting to mate

Malaysian Zoological Society deputy president Rosly@Rahmat Ahmat said the signs were detected by a Zoo Negara team member who specifically looked after and managed the daily needs of the two panda bears since yesterday.

"There are already signs of interest in mating before the pair are flown to the country but the situation is more evident when they arrived and quarantined here (Zoo Negara) to adjust to each other.

"Among the early signs are that they will emit feline-like sounds and display extraordinary movements. While being quarantined, their cages are placed side by side," Rosly, who is also Zoo Negara deputy president, said when contacted by Bernama.

He said the zoo would hold discussions with the Chinese authorities if they wish to allow the two pandas to mate naturally to produce a baby panda.

"This is because the panda pair is on loan from China and symbolic of the good relationship between both countries and we need to discuss with them (China)," he said.

Rosly said, up till now, the two pandas were healthy when the quarantine process began three days ago.

"The female panda Feng Yi appears less active and likes to move about since the first day at their 'new home' compared to the male panda (Fu Wa) that is calmer and still adjusting itself.

"Nevertheless both pandas have great appetites, eating about 30kg of food daily, including bamboo and shoots," he said.

The panda pair, which is a symbol of 40 years of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties, arrived here from Chengdu, China last Wednesday to start a new life overseas for the next 10 years.

Loaned through the Malaysia-China Giant Panda International Conservation Agreement programme, the pandas will be quarantined for about one month in a special place in the zoo to enable them to adjust themselves to the new environment.

Via the programme signed in 2012, Malaysia has the opportunity to undertake giant panda conservation research besides being able to develop and train local experts in the field.