The Malaysian Insight

XING Xing and Liang Liang, the two 16-year-old giant pandas on loan from China at Zoo Negara, should not stay here for too long after their contract ends in 2024 due to possible old age issues, the zoo’s management suggested.

Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly @ Rahmat Amat Lana said their time here could be extended by another three years, or five years at the most, after 2024 when they reach 18 years of age.

“We would suggest that three years is a good extension period because pandas can only live up to 30 years.

“We don’t want the pandas to have old-age problems. But renewing the contract is completely the government’s decision. As caretakers, we have no say. This is only our advice,” Rosly told The Malaysian Insight.

Xing Xing and Liang Liang came to Malaysia in 2014, when they were eight.

Rosly said the pair were considered the fastest to have reproduced among other giant panda couples China has loaned to other countries.

Xing Xing and Liang Liang have had three cubs within eight years, compared to, for example, Kai Kai and Jia Jia in Singapore, which only had their first cub Le Le after nine years, he said.

“As caretakers, we are doing very well. China had also complimented us.”

The pandas arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014, under the International Giant Panda Conservation Agreement with China.

The first cub born to the panda pair was Nuan Nuan on August 18, 2015. It was sent home to China on November 14, 2018.

The second cub Yi Yi was born on January 14, 2019 and is currently at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre in Zoo Negara.

“The second cub is still here because the plan to send it back was postponed due to Covid-19.

“But while waiting, the pair had another baby on May 31 last year,” said Rosly, adding that the births happened naturally.

Rosly said the pandas are the most popular animal at Zoo Negara, followed by the tigers.

In late 2020, amid movement restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19, there was public pressure to send the pandas back to China to help Zoo Negara cope with its financial woes.

The zoo was reported to have only three months’ worth of emergency funds left, at the time. Under Malaysia’s agreement with China, however, the pandas cannot be returned before the end of the 10-year programme.

Rosly said Zoo Negara had been able to cope better financially following the easing of movement restrictions, or phase 4 of the national recovery plan.

Zoo Negara has survived for more than 50 years since 1963, drawing its principal income from ticket sales.

With Covid-19 standard operating procedure in place, the zoo’s maximum capacity for visitors is only 6,000, half its usual pre-pandemic capacity.

Most days see about 2,000 visitors since the zoo reopened on October 1 last year, and visitors are mostly locals from within the Klang Valley.

Rosly also refuted claims that the zoo was unclean and the animals “unhealthy”, as tweeted by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim at the beginning of this year.

“We clean the cages everyday and we give them food according to the feeding time. They are also given vitamins every week or everyday according to the doctor’s advice.

“Sickness among animals is rare and occurs to one or two animals at a time, so 90% of the other animals are healthy. Also, we don’t keep the sick ones away from the public as some zoos do, as we want them to walk about and get exercise. So maybe one or two don’t look so well to the public,” Rosly said.

He acknowledged that the animals had to adapt to some changes during the pandemic, which affected the zoo’s income.

“Their usual meat could not be imported, so we substituted with local chickens. Some of the animals refused to eat chicken but we made sure to look after their health,” Rosly said.

He also acknowledged public complaints about the ticket price of RM45 for Malaysian adults, but said Zoo Negara had a variety of animals.

Ticket prices will remain the same for now, Rosly said.

The zoo faced financial challenges during lockdowns, which started in March 2020.

Zoo Negara needs between RM1.2 million and RM1.4 million monthly for its operational cost.

In May last year, Rosly told the press that there was only money left to run the zoo for another three months.

Following a donation drive through a sponsorship and adoption programme, RM11.6 million was collected.

“The public was very supportive. We received contributions from school children in amounts of RM0.20 and others who gave up to RM20,000.

“We still receive some donations today,” Rosly added. – January 16, 2022.