Friday, September 7, 2012

Pandas making babies - that's the 'KPI'

My Paper, Friday, September 7, 2012, Page A2 & A4, News
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2012-09-07
Source Website:
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120907-370073.html
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html
By Victoria Barker, vbarker@sph.com.sg, my paper, Friday, Sep 07, 2012


Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia
Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia
PHOTO: Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia
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The upcoming River Safari attraction yesterday welcomed two "beary" special additions, with the arrival of giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia from Chengdu, China.

Kai Kai is male and turns five next Friday, while Jia Jia is a four-year-old female.



PHOTO: Curious and playful, Kai Kai, the five-year-old male panda is one of the two pandas bound for Singapore on Sep 6. He has been quarantined for a month where he was kept in an enclosure away from the other pandas and the area is out-of-bound to visitors to their panda base in Ya'an Bifeng gorge in the Sichuan province, China.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: Jia Jia, 4, eating the leaves of the bamboo plant.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: A large crowd of visitors were at the Ya'an panda base earlier to bid farewell to pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai as they head for their new home in Singapore.
A farewell was held before the pandas were transported on a truck to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, where they will be flown overnight on board a Singapore Airlines cargo plane.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


PHOTO: Maeda Keiko, 51, breaks into tears after the pandas leave the Panda base at Ya'an Bifeng Gorge for the airport. Mdm Keiko adopted Jia Jia, the four-year-old female when she was a cub. Residing in Kobe, Japan, she visits Jia Jia at least five times a year.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


PHOTO: The plane soon departs from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, China.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


The pair - on a 10-year loan from the Chinese government to mark 20 years of close ties between Singapore and China - were on board a Singapore Airlines Boeing 747 cargo freighter that touched down at 8.20am at Changi Airport's JetQuay CIP (Commercially Important Persons) terminal.



PHOTO: The plane taxis in.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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Once unloaded, parts of the covers for the pandas' custommade crates were lifted to reveal the pair, which appeared sprightly despite the almost five-hour flight.

They poked their noses between the crates' metal bars and gazed at photographers as they faced a welcome party of about 100 people. The group included Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck, who posed for photos.



PHOTO: Kai Kai touching down at Changi Airport at 8:20am
PHOTO by Jamie Koh
My Paper, Friday, September 7, 2012, Page A2, News



PHOTO: Jia Jia touching down at Changi Airport at 8:20am
PHOTO by Jamie Koh
My Paper, Friday, September 7, 2012, Page A2, News


Mr Teo said that having the pandas mate is a KPI, or key performance indicator. But, like Singapore's "challenges when it comes to procreation", such things cannot be controlled. He added that "it's more important to make sure they live comfortably and well in Singapore".

The pandas were then transported in a temperature-controlled truck to their new home - the River Safari's Giant Panda Forest, a 1,500 sq m enclosure costing $8.6 million.

They were welcomed by almost 1,000 guests and staff of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS).


PHOTO: The pandas arrived at the Singapore Zoo to much fanfare.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: The public gather at the Singapore Zoo for the big welcome.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: Children at the Singapore Zoo, ready to welcome the pandas.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: Pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia are in Singapore
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


The two pandas will be quarantined in a den for a month before being released into the enclosure for them to get used to it. The public will be able to view the two by December, even though the River Safari opens officially next year.



PHOTO: Giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia will be housed in a giant forested enclosure when they arrive in Singapore from Chengdu in China. Called the Giant Panda Forest, the $8.6-million enclosure at the upcoming River Safari is 1,500 sq m in size, or about that of 20 Housing Board three-room flats.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
http://static.relax.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/relax/1300156/topImage.jpg
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html



PHOTO: Generic photograph of the bamboo plants that Wildlife Reserves Singapore have grown in a special area in preparation of the arrival of the two pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia from China.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
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http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


WRS chairman Claire Chiang told reporters on the sidelines of the welcome ceremony at the airport that the pandas have been warming up to their Singaporean carers.

They include the River Safari's assistant director of zoology, Mr Ang Cheng Chye, who has spent time in China with the animals.



PHOTO: Upon landing, the giant pandas were received by Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and representatives* from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore; State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China; CapitaLand Limited; CapitaLand Hope Foundation; Singapore Airlines; Temasek Holdings; Singapore Tourism Board; and Wildlife Reserves Singapore, who gathered at the cargo area to welcome the bears.
AsiaOne / Photos: ST, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
http://static.relax.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/relax/1302886/topImage.jpg
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/media/1300044/Pandas_Kai_Kai_and_Jia_Jia_are_in_Singapore.html


"Just yesterday, Kai Kai was lying on the ground quite lazily. When (Mr Ang) called, he got up and went to him... He recognised his voice," she said.

She added that just as is done in their China home, the pandas will likely undergo medical examinations on the fifth, 15th and 25th of each month, to monitor their health and behaviour.

As for the possibility of the "celebrity couple" mating, Ms Chiang said she is hopeful.

She said an environment that would help their love affair to blossom would have to be created, adding: "We can't direct nature (but) we can ...facilitate the best environment for them."
By Victoria Barker, vbarker@sph.com.sg, my paper, Friday, Sep 07, 2012


Panda PLEDGE - Take a stand and pledge to keep the giant pandas from going extinct!
Panda PLEDGE - Take a stand and pledge to keep the giant pandas from going extinct!
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/images/bg-pandapledge.jpg
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/


Panda TV - Follow the adventures of Kai Kai and Jia Jia in these behind-the-scenes videos!
Panda TV - Follow the adventures of Kai Kai and Jia Jia in these behind-the-scenes videos!
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/images/bg-pandatv.jpg
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/


Panda TALES - Get the insider stories on our giant pandas!
Panda TALES - Get the insider stories on our giant pandas!
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/images/bg-pandatales.jpg
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/


Pandapedia - Get the black and white on giant pandas and become an expert!
Pandapedia - Get the black and white on giant pandas and become an expert!
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/images/bg-pandapedia.jpg
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/


Giant Panda Forest - Welcome to the home of Singapore's very own giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia!
Giant Panda Forest - Welcome to the home of Singapore's very own giant pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia!
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/images/bg-forest.jpg
http://pandas.riversafari.com.sg/



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