Post by Trang on Jul 1, 2007 22:36:37 GMT -5
original title : Pandas get over first-time jitters, Andy Lau at the official opening ceremony for the two pandas
Big crowds, big smiles, big pandas. The two cute giant pandas, Ying Ying and Lok Lok,
met the public and attracted thousands who queued up to see them at Ocean Park.
When the door of the pair's new home opened at 9.30am, at least 4,000
people were already lining up.
The official opening ceremony for the two pandas - a gift from the central
government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of reunification with the mainland -
was held Sunday morning. Among those at the ceremony were Ocean Park
chairman Allan Zeman and the park's conservation ambassador Andy Lau Tak-Wah,
who tapped musical triangles as a signal to call Ying Ying and Lok Lok into
the Giant Panda Habitat. They slowly emerged into the habitat to see a media army
surrounding the viewing grounds. Startled, the pandas refused to come out,
but their trainers used their favorite food to lure them straight to the press.
After that, the pair was too busy munching away at bamboo sticks to be bothered
by anything. The 600-square-meter Giant Panda Habitat is divided into three separate
activity zones. Each area is designed to reflect the ecological environment in Sichuan,
with a skylight roof allowing natural light.
About 200 people can stay for 10 minutes at one time for photographs in the habitat.
Cheung Sze-ching, a seven- year-old student from Diocesan Girls Junior School,
said she had looked forward to meeting the pandas as she had never seen one. "
I think they're very fat," Cheung said. "The way they walk is very cute."
Zeman said he expected the park to reach its full capacity of 35,000 Sunday.
He also said the older pandas, An An and Jia Jia, seemed to get excited
with the attention brought by the new pandas. "An An suddenly came alive...
Jia Jia is still moving, though a little bit slowly," Zeman said.
The Harrison and Cabrera families from North Carolina arrived at Ocean Park
at 9.30am and decided to head straight to the habitat.
"I heard they were coming, and we decided to pay them a visit," said Isiah Harrison.
The crowd which rushed to see the pandas created within minutes a massive queue,
with those in the line needing over an hour to reach the habitat.
After the long wait, the reward was the view of four motionless, yet adorable pandas
having their morning nap. Apparently, the pandas did not even have to move to capture
the hearts of the crowd. Asked whether it was boring to see the sleeping pandas,
Harrison said: "No. I think it's interesting, that's what they do, right?
Pandas sleep most of the time."
Zeman answered this particular question, and gave some tips to the visitors.
"Pandas sleep a lot. Sometimes when visitors come, they're sleeping,
but you can't help it. You can't wait for them to wake up."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sDRkZSMXNU
(credits to asianfanatics)
Big crowds, big smiles, big pandas. The two cute giant pandas, Ying Ying and Lok Lok,
met the public and attracted thousands who queued up to see them at Ocean Park.
When the door of the pair's new home opened at 9.30am, at least 4,000
people were already lining up.
The official opening ceremony for the two pandas - a gift from the central
government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of reunification with the mainland -
was held Sunday morning. Among those at the ceremony were Ocean Park
chairman Allan Zeman and the park's conservation ambassador Andy Lau Tak-Wah,
who tapped musical triangles as a signal to call Ying Ying and Lok Lok into
the Giant Panda Habitat. They slowly emerged into the habitat to see a media army
surrounding the viewing grounds. Startled, the pandas refused to come out,
but their trainers used their favorite food to lure them straight to the press.
After that, the pair was too busy munching away at bamboo sticks to be bothered
by anything. The 600-square-meter Giant Panda Habitat is divided into three separate
activity zones. Each area is designed to reflect the ecological environment in Sichuan,
with a skylight roof allowing natural light.
About 200 people can stay for 10 minutes at one time for photographs in the habitat.
Cheung Sze-ching, a seven- year-old student from Diocesan Girls Junior School,
said she had looked forward to meeting the pandas as she had never seen one. "
I think they're very fat," Cheung said. "The way they walk is very cute."
Zeman said he expected the park to reach its full capacity of 35,000 Sunday.
He also said the older pandas, An An and Jia Jia, seemed to get excited
with the attention brought by the new pandas. "An An suddenly came alive...
Jia Jia is still moving, though a little bit slowly," Zeman said.
The Harrison and Cabrera families from North Carolina arrived at Ocean Park
at 9.30am and decided to head straight to the habitat.
"I heard they were coming, and we decided to pay them a visit," said Isiah Harrison.
The crowd which rushed to see the pandas created within minutes a massive queue,
with those in the line needing over an hour to reach the habitat.
After the long wait, the reward was the view of four motionless, yet adorable pandas
having their morning nap. Apparently, the pandas did not even have to move to capture
the hearts of the crowd. Asked whether it was boring to see the sleeping pandas,
Harrison said: "No. I think it's interesting, that's what they do, right?
Pandas sleep most of the time."
Zeman answered this particular question, and gave some tips to the visitors.
"Pandas sleep a lot. Sometimes when visitors come, they're sleeping,
but you can't help it. You can't wait for them to wake up."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sDRkZSMXNU
(credits to asianfanatics)