Hong Kong’s four-day-old panda twins are in stable condition, said the head of Ocean Park. Photo: Ocean ParkOcean Park’s chief has given Hongkongers a much-awaited update on the giant panda twins born in the city four days ago, saying they are stable but still fragile and vowing to provide further online updates. However, the chairman reiterated that the public will only be able to meet the baby bears “in another few months”.
Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee also said on Monday his institution was a non-profit organisation and that a “panda economy” would require more efforts from other sectors.
“The panda infants are not a week old yet so they are a little fragile, but are eating and excreting well,” Pong told radio programmes.
“The two cubs are also taking turns to spend time with their mother Ying Ying, who holds them so that the cubs can feel the warmth of their mother. The arrangement is dependent on the park’s expert carers.
“We will do our best to post video clips on social media and provide more information on their growth, but at present the most important thing is to ensure they are healthy,” Pong said.
Beijing’s gift to Hong Kong, a pair of giant pandas, to arrive in September
“It will be another few months before the public can meet the cubs.”
The park previously said the first three or four days after birth were critical for the cubs’ survival, during which their weight would decline slightly.
Pong added that a “panda economy” was viable, noting he would explore collaborations on what related claims on intellectual property could be made.
Arrangements for products and promotions for another two pandas, gifted by Beijing and arriving in the city in September, were finalised by Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung in Sichuan on Friday.
Of the city’s newborn bears, Pong sad: “Now that we have the baby boy and girl, I think it’s even more attractive and can help Hong Kong tourism shine.”
However, he stressed that the park was a non-profit organisation and the participation of various industries, including hotel, retail, food and beverage, would be needed to enable the “panda economy” to flourish.
Pong added the park was giving regular updates on the pandas on social media and was exploring how to inform the public of the latest updates in a more timely manner.
He encouraged the public to pay a visit to the park to see all the pandas in person, when the time came for their public unveiling.