Talk of the town : Pandas in Hong Kong
【明報專訊】In August, a momentous occasion unfolded in Hong Kong as Ying Ying, a beloved panda at Ocean Park, gave birth to twins, marking the first-ever birth of giant panda twins in Hong Kong.
This joyous event was not the only exciting news on the horizon. Hong Kong also joyfully welcomed a new pair of giant pandas from Sichuan, provided by the China's central government. The panda is regarded as a "national treasure" of China - Do you know much about pandas?
Facts about pandas
The giant panda, with its distinctive black and white coat, is adored worldwide. Pandas primarily inhabit temperate forests nestled high in the mountains of southwest China.
To meet their dietary needs, pandas must consume between 26 to 84 pounds of bamboo daily. These gentle giants require 4300 to 5500 kilocalories of food each day to thrive, equivalent to approximately 20 bowls of rice or 20 hamburgers for a human.
Due to human activities fragmenting their habitats, many pandas face challenges in finding food or connecting with other groups for mating. The Chinese government has implemented laws and regulations to protect them. Given the panda's cultural significance and the imperative for conservation efforts, it has been the logo of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) since 1961.
Pandas and Hong Kong
There have been a total of six giant pandas, all of them gifts from the central government that have taken up residence in Hong Kong. The first pair of pandas, An An (安安) and Jia Jia (佳佳), arrived in Hong Kong in 1999 and passed away in 2022 and 2016, respectively. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HKSAR, the central government gifted another pair of pandas to Hong Kong in 2007, namely Le Le (樂樂) and Ying Ying (盈盈). They are well taken care of by Ocean Park Hong Kong.
Recently, pandas have become a big hit among Hong Kong people. Some shopping malls have used this trend to attract both local residents and foreign tourists. The government has also organized a naming campaign in which citizens are encouraged and invited to suggest meaningful names that highlight the unique characteristics of the two giant pandas. Participants are expected to use 100 words to explain their suggestions. Apart from using your creativity to think of their names, you are also encouraged to join the drawing competition!
■Grammar booster
On the horizon
Likely to happen or exist soon.
E.g. Many people believe that a major breakthrough in medical technology is on the horizon.
■Gear up
(Answer on next text)
1. Jia Jia passed away in 2016. (True/False)
2. This exhibition is a __________ opportunity to see the antiques from ancient times.
(Fill in the blank with the glossary below)
■Glossary
joyous (adj) 高興的
distinctive (adj) 特別的
fragment (v) 拆碎
unique (adj) 獨特的
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view of rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第417期]
