‘Sichuan-flavoured’ food to help Hong Kong’s 2 incoming pandas adjust to new home

Pandas will be met by city’s No 2 official in a welcoming ceremony at Hong Kong airport

Reading Time:3 minutes

Giant pandas Ke Ke (left) and An An, as they are known in Sichuan, will touch down in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Ocean Park

Published: 4:00pm, 25 Sep 2024Updated: 12:22am, 26 Sep 2024

Hometown flavours will accompany Hong Kong’s two incoming pandas on their journey from Sichuan province, handlers have revealed, as officials gave the pair a send-off on Wednesday.

Pandas An An and Ke Ke, gifted by Beijing to Hong Kong, will be met by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki in a welcoming ceremony at the city’s airport on Thursday.

But a source said the two pandas would remain in their cages, which would be wrapped up throughout their journey to their new home at Ocean Park to prevent them from seeing outside and being scared by crowds.

Dong Li, who has taken care of An An and Ke Ke for 1½ years in Sichuan, said the pair, both aged five, had started to form a relationship with Ocean Park handlers, while he would bring “Sichuan-flavoured” food to Hong Kong to help the bears adjust.

“When they use Cantonese to call their names, [the pandas] demonstrate a clear reaction with their ears and hearing. This shows that they have established a preliminary relationship of trust,” Dong said in a media interview.

Young dancers perform at a farewell ceremony in Sichuan for the two Hong Kong-bound pandas. Photo: ISD

Dong will also fly to Hong Kong to take care of the pair for three to four months in their new home.