20-3-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore-born giant panda cub Le Le received a special guest at his new residence in the Dujiangyan Panda Base located in southwest China’s Sichuan province.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean paid a visit to Le Le on March 19 during his official six-day trip to China, which commenced on March 17.
In a Facebook post, Mr Teo expressed, “A visit to Sichuan would not be complete without seeing Le Le!”
During Mr Teo’s visit to the panda base, Le Le was observed indulging in bamboo leaves, frolicking on a platform, and engaging with his new companions.
He shares an enclosure with Sichuan-born panda cub Qing Zai and his twin sister Qing Bao, who are slightly younger than Le Le and will celebrate their third birthday in August.
Le Le made his public debut in China earlier this month after being transported from Singapore via a specially arranged SIA flight in January.
Mr Zhang Guiquan, head of the panda base, described Le Le as a symbol of mutual affection between Singapore and China during Mr Teo’s visit. He also mentioned that the cub is thriving and has a robust appetite, now weighing an auspicious 88kg, up from the initial 70kg upon his arrival in January.
Le Le’s diet includes a substantial amount of bamboo, along with apples, carrots, and wowotou, a nutritious cake-like feed made from corn, rice, and soybeans.
Mr Zhang highlighted Le Le’s sociable nature and emphasized the importance of socialization for young pandas, likening it to attending kindergarten, which contributes to their friendliness and future breeding capabilities.
Male pandas typically begin breeding activities at six years old, with females starting at five, indicating Le Le could potentially engage in breeding in just over three years.
A staff member at the panda base expressed confidence in Le Le’s future as a breeding male, citing his excellent health.
Le Le has garnered a significant following on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with the hashtag “giant panda Le Le” amassing over 7.246 million views. Netizens affectionately refer to him as a “she niu,” praising his sociable behaviour and sharing videos of him playing with Qing Zai.
Visitors from Singapore, including Le Le’s fans, have frequented the panda base, reflecting his popularity beyond China’s borders.
Managed by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, the Dujiangyan Panda Base is home to approximately 45 pandas, including “overseas returnees” like Le Le, who hail from countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, and Austria.
After spending an hour at the panda base, Mr Teo departed for Zhejiang province, where he visited the operations command centre of Hangzhou City Brain, a smart city platform utilising advanced technologies to enhance urban management.
