Yuan Zai get's ready for her public debut
Taipei Zoo’s panda cub Yuan Zai and her mother Yuan Yuan have been busy gearing up for the cub’s public debut January 6, 2014.
Taiwan’s first panda cub has been adjusting to her enclosure at the Panda Hall.
Now 13.2 kilograms, she has been climbing on trees and playing with rocks and is now familiar with the facility, though zookeepers had to guide Yuan Yuan to where the mother-daughter duo will be greeting visitors.
It took some time for Yuan Yuan, who has not visited the enclosure since she gave birth on July 6, to let her guard down.
Zookeepers are feeding the pandas five times a day, hiding the food in different locations to allow Yuan Yuan to teach the young cub how to forage for food.
Staff members praised Yuan Yuan’s devotion to the cub, who has started to mimic her mother, biting at carrots and tree bark as if they were bamboo — though she has not yet been weaned off milk.
Taipei Zoo will accept reservations for up to 300 visitors per day to meet the panda family, and groups of 30 or more are encouraged to make appointments three days in advance. Visitors without reservations can queue up, as well, though numbers will be limited.
Yuan Zai remains extremely popular. A famous singer dedicated a song to her and the new city busses will be panda-themed.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNjUzNDk1MzAw.html
Source: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131229000023&cid=1103
