On 15th June last year, the Malaysian and Chinese governments clinched a deal for two panda cubs Feng Yi (female) and Fu Wa (male) to be loaned to Kuala Lumpur for 10 years to mark their 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2014.
However, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas announced yesterday that the two giant pandas will arrive in Malaysia as early as December, six months ahead of schedule. As we speak, Feng Yi and Fu Wa’s conservation and exhibition centre at Zoo Negara is currently underway.
The RM25 million centre was designed by Multi Spex Architects and it would have enough space to not only house the giant pandas but also a baby panda should the pair produce a cub. The project is targeted for completion in November this year.
Meanwhile, 2.324 entries were received for the ministry’s contest to name the pandas. It won’t be long now before the results are announced!
(Source)
