Crowds welcome new panda arrivals at Ocean Park Hong Kong

Following months of preparation and a three-hour flight from the Chinese city of Sichuan, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has welcomed two new pandas, An An and Ke Ke.

The five-year-old pandas, presented to Hong Kong as gifts by the Chinese Government to the special administrative region announced on 1st July, will undergo mandatory quarantine for at least 30 days in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures at Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Visitors to Ocean Park are expected to see An An and Ke Ke in action as early as December after the pair go through acclimatisation in their new habitat for one to two months.

They will join four other pandas at Ocean Park.

Welcoming the pandas, Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, advised "Ocean Park is ready to spread the joy of Hong Kong's newest pandas, An An and Ke Ke, throughout the city as our skilled animal care and veterinary teams give them the warmest of welcomes in their new home.

"Their arrival is sure to renew enthusiasm for this adorable species and strengthen conservation and education efforts in Hong Kong."

An An and Ke Ke’s journey to their new home in Hong Kong began well before they boarded their flight, with preparations having commenced in mid-July. It saw Ocean Park’s animal care team taking turns travelling to the Dujiangyan Base of the Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), laying the groundwork for the successful relocation of An An and Ke Ke.

The CCRCGP held a farewell ceremony on 25th September before the pandas boarded an aircraft set to the most comfortable temperature for their direct flight to Hong Kong.

Upon landing at the Hong Kong International Airport at 11:05am, husbandry and veterinary experts from Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department checked on An An and Ke Ke.

They were then carefully transferred to air-conditioned trucks and escorted to Ocean Park by the Police Force Escort Group.

On arriving at Ocean Park today, they were given a warm welcome by excited staff and performers, led by the Park’s mascot.

Images: A crowd welcomes An An and Ke Ke as they arrive at Ocean Park today (top), An An 2024 at Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda prior to relocation (middle) and Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation (below). Credit: Ocean Park.