Malaysia joins Panda club

Malaysia joins Panda club
12-06-2012

Malaysia is latest country to receive giant pandas from China. A pair are expected to arrive in Malaysia in 2014, to be housed at a manmade nature park (not a zoo) in Putrajaya known as "Taman Wetlands" (Wetlands Park in English).

Giant Pandas for Malaysia

Malaysia is the third Southeast Asian country to receive giant pandas, after Thailand and Singapore. Indonesia is said to be closing in on a panda deal as well, in exchange for sending Komodo Dragons to China.

12-06-2012

Hot and humid lowland jungle countries are not ideal places to exhibit cold mountain animals like pandas. (Unless perhaps they build a climate controlled exhibit as I believe Singapore is doing).

12-06-2012

from the article:
"China news reports in April reported that Malaysia would spend a whopping RM20mil for the upkeep of the pandas.

The budget is expected to cover for the construction of an air-conditioned sanctuary for the pandas, importing bamboos from China for their meals as well to train local handlers for the animals."

12-06-2012

this is the website for Putrajaya Taman Wetland. It looks very nice.
Portal Rasmi Perbadanan Putrajaya

and photos here (including Flamingo Pond): Putrajaya Wetland Park

12-06-2012

A poor traveller to Singapore and Malaysia will be forgiven for assuming that pandas are riparian, considering the parks that will have them in the region.

I say this every time a new destination is announced for pandas, but it is all getting rather silly. At this rate, they will not remain one of the zoo world's ultimate status symbols for very much longer.

31-12-2012

Beijing Zoo had planned to exhibit Komodo dragons again since 2012, now it seems that they exchange pandas with Komodo dragons. Although I think babirusa is a more suitable choice than a large lizard that hard to breed.

17-01-2013

Pandas are now to be placed at Zoo Negara rather than Taman Wetlands
BERNAMA - Panda Bears Coming To Zoo Negara In May 2014

01-05-2013

see also this thread where I just put the latest on the pandas coming to Zoo Negara: More Giant Pandas on the move?