Mainland panda pair arrive in Taiwan

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-24-2008 09:02

A plane carrying a pair of giant pandas sent as a gift by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan has safely landed in Taipei. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, whose names put together mean "reunion", went on a nearly ten-hour journey, and finally arrived at the Taipei Zoo on Tuesday evening.

At about 5pm on Tuesday, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan arrived at  Taoyuan Airport after a 3-hour flight from Chengdu.

At about 5pm on Tuesday, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan arrived at Taoyuan Airport after a 3-hour flight from Chengdu. Authorities say both pandas slept during the journey and their condition remains good.

It took 6 staff more than 30 minutes to conduct the pandas' initial quarantine examination at the airport. Afterwards, the pair was transferred to their new home, the Taipei Zoo. Traffic control measures were in place on the roads leading to the zoo, to ensure a smooth journey for the pandas.

Around 7:30pm, the pair finally arrived at the zoo. To help the pair adapt to their new environment, their first meal in Taiwan was mainly of bamboo from Sichuan province, mixed with some bamboo produced on the island.

Local authorities say the couple will remain in quarantine for one month at the zoo. They are expected to meet the public next month and attract about 30,000 visitors a day.