Adelaide Zoo’s new pandas Xing Qiu and Yi Lan receive warm welcome at public debut
The wait is finally over – Adelaide Zoo’s two un-bear-ably cute new residents have officially made their public debut.
SA News
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A crowd of thrilled zoogoers have welcomed Adelaide’s newest fluffy black-and-white duo after they arrived from China last month.
As temperatures hit 29C on Tuesday, new giant pandas Xing Qiu and Yi Lan received a warm welcome as they made their public debut during an official welcome ceremony at Adelaide Zoo’s Bamboo Forest.
Both pandas, originally from the Chinese city of Chengdu, were greeted with colourfully decorated enrichment boxes, filled with panda cake, apple carrot.
During the ceremony, Yi Lan wasted no time exploring her new environment, walking through bushes and strolling up rocks before scavenging and ripping through her welcome cardboard boxes.
While Xing Qiu relaxed peacefully under the trees and only made a brief appearance, seemingly seeking shelter from the blistering sun.
Known for his good looks, four-year-old male panda Xing Qiu’s name means “autumn star” and plays homage to the starry autumn night he was born.
His three-year-old female pal Yi Lan’s name means “ideally blissful”.
Leaving Chengdu’s average January temperature of about 11C, the claw-some pair made the 15-hour journey on December 15, then headed straight to Adelaide Zoo, where they quarantined and got acquainted with their new home.
After the Chinese Premier, Mr Li Qiang offered the panda pair during a visit to Adelaide Zoo last year, their arrival became a co-ordinated effort by the state government, the Commonwealth Government, Zoo SA and their Chinese counterparts.
Premier Malinauskas said he was eager to see how Yi Lan and Xing Qiu’s relationship unfolded over the next few years.
“South Australia being home to the only two giant pandas in the southern hemisphere is an act of generosity on behalf of China,” Mr Malinauskas said at the opening ceremony.
“I’m excited about the possibility that Yi Lan and Xing Qiu might yet find each other’s company rather comforting.
“I understand Yi Lan is a particularly playful and feisty lady, and that Xing Qiu is indeed a handsome fellow with an auspiciously round head, which is a good thing.”
Their arrival came after the departure of our previous panda pair, Wang Wang and Fu Ni.
“We are so grateful for everything Wang Wang and Fu Ni have done for our state,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Infamous for their failure to successfully breed, the couple returned home to China in November after 15 years in the state.
The pandas are on loan at Adelaide Zoo on a 10-year agreement, costing about $1.5m a year.
This month, Monarto Safari Park will welcome its second Asian elephant, 34-year-old Permai, who is making the move from Perth Zoo.
Her male mate Putra Mas, will remain in Western Australia until mid-late 2025.
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