New pandas will need more room at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, tourism minister says

Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)

Hong Kong’s tourism chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung has said that Ocean Park needs to expand its pavilion to fit six giant pandas.

Last month, Ying Ying gave birth to a male and a female with her mate Le Le. The theme park released a short clip of one of the newborn cubs who gently squealed as it snuggled under a blanket. The family will soon be joined by two young adults gifted by Beijing.

In a televised interview, Yeung noted that pandas were territorial animals.

“In the long run, we need six pavilions to accommodate the six giant pandas. We still have time to consider the construction,” he said. “All Hong Kong residents are happy to see the two panda cubs. I think the government should help address the money issue.”

The park currently has two panda pavilions. Each one has two spaces for the animals.

Yeung pledged to offer financial help to the theme park, which is still in debt to the government. He predicted the city’s collection of pandas would lure visitors.

He said the twins’ birth was a surprise because an ultrasound initially showed only one cub.

The twins’ official social media accounts already have more than 55,000 followers.

Quiz time

1. Why does Ocean Park need to build more facilities for giant pandas?

2. When were the twins born?

3. How has Hong Kong’s tourism minister promised to help Ocean Park?

4. How many panda pavilions does Ocean Park have at the moment?

5. Why was the birth of the twin giant pandas a surprise for Ocean Park?

Suggested answers

1. Hong Kong is set to house six giant pandas in total, including newborn twins.

2. August

3. by offering financial help

4. two

5. An ultrasound initially showed only one cub.