TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two red pandas from Shanghai Zoo are expected to arrive in Taipei on Saturday as part of a species exchange with Taipei Zoo.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the handover ceremony for the two animals was held at Shanghai Zoo on Friday afternoon, per PTS News.
In late 2024, Taipei City Government and Shanghai Municipal Government agreed to a species exchange for red pandas at the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, per CNA. At the time, Taipei Zoo said it planned to exchange black-footed penguins for red pandas.
Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) said Friday that Shanghai Zoo had a breeding population of black-footed penguins. So, at Shanghai's request, it was decided to swap for white-handed gibbons instead, PTS reported.
Chiang said Thursday there will be a one-month quarantine period, adding the city may allow residents to vote on their names, per CNA.
However, DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) said on Facebook that the pandas are a gift approved by Beijing at a politically advantageous time. Chien questioned whether the gift was the result of the city forum or a political gesture timed for Taipei's mayoral election year.
