18-1-2024 (BEIJING) Singapore’s beloved giant panda cub, Le Le, has safely reached Chengdu, China, where he is undergoing the second phase of mandatory quarantine, as announced jointly by Mandai Wildlife Group and Singapore Airlines (SIA) in a media statement on Wednesday (Jan 17).
Le Le, who will turn three in August, completed an initial 4½-week quarantine at the River Wonders in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore before embarking on his journey to China. During the second quarantine in Huaying, Guang’an city, Sichuan province, the panda cub will be closely monitored by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda to determine his permanent residence.
According to Xinhua news agency, Le Le will undergo a 30-day quarantine in China, with plans to make his public appearance around the Chinese New Year, celebrated on Feb 10 and 11.
Born on foreign soil, Le Le falls under the terms of Chinese panda loan agreements, requiring the return of cubs to China when they turn two.
Le Le bid farewell to his Singaporean home at the Pavilion Capital Giant Panda Forest at River Wonders on Dec 13, entering quarantine in his den on Dec 14.
On Jan 16, the VIP (Very Important Panda), as SIA affectionately called him, was transported to Changi Airport and chartered to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The flight, according to Flightradar24, took off at 7.17 pm Singapore time and landed at 11.14 pm.
The departure day was filled with emotional moments as the panda care team prepared Le Le for his journey and bid their heartfelt goodbyes. The team crafted a heart-shaped card with good wishes, attaching it to Le Le’s crate for the journey.
Various dignitaries, including Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, Mr. Zhu Jing from the Chinese Embassy, and Ms. Qin Wen, cultural counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, were present at the airport to bid farewell to Le Le. His keeper Trisha Tay, a veterinarian from Mandai Wildlife Group, and a Chinese keeper accompanied him on the flight.
Despite the journey, Le Le adapted well and maintained a healthy appetite, enjoying bamboo and bamboo shoots. His arrival in China marks a significant milestone as he officially joins China’s giant panda conservation programme for the protection of his species.
