Hualien County donates bamboo shoots for Taiwan's pandas
The panda bears at the Taipei Zoo got a treat of 300 kilograms of wild bamboo shoots from the Hualien County Government April 30.
Jason Yeh, zoo director, revealed that Yuanyuan, the female panda at the zoo, underwent artificial insemination at the beginning of the year, and that in about two weeks it will be known whether she is pregnant. The delicious wild bamboo from mountainous areas of Hualien is the most nutritious food to ensure the healthy development of a fetus, he said.
Yuanyuan and Tuantuan, the male panda, first used their teeth to peel off the bark, after which they slowly enjoyed the tender bamboo shoots. Once they started in on the bamboo, there was no stopping them.
Huge natural bamboo forests exist in Hualien’s Yuli and Zhuoxi townships, with an annual harvest of around 60,000 kilograms each April and May. Hualien also donated 100 packages of bamboo shoots and Yuxi rice to be sold at the zoo, with all of the proceeds going to a conservation fund for the pandas.
Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2011-05/01/c_13853583.htm
