URUMQI – In a landmark event for wildlife conservation and public education, two giant pandas have officially made their public debut at the Urumqi Water Park Zoo in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The pandas, named Bao Yuan and De Rui, arrived in the city on February 5 and have now completed a crucial two-week acclimatization period, allowing them to settle into their new habitat.
The zoo’s newly opened Giant Panda Pavilion commenced its trial operation on Thursday, introducing a unique viewing system to ensure the animals’ welfare. To facilitate a smooth transition and minimize stress, each visitor is allotted a five-minute viewing window. The pavilion will be open daily from 11 am to 7 pm. This carefully managed approach is designed to protect the pandas’ natural behaviors while accommodating public interest, enabling a larger number of guests to witness the celebrated creatures.
The arrival of the pandas marks a significant cultural and ecological milestone for Xinjiang, enhancing the region’s biodiversity conservation efforts and providing a unique educational resource for residents and tourists. The event underscores China’s ongoing commitment to the protection and preservation of its national treasure, the giant panda.