Austria prepares to care for giant pandas from China

A pair of giant pandas from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda will be sent to Austria, initiating a 10-year international cooperation on giant panda conservation, according to an agreement on a new round of international cooperation on giant panda conservation signed by the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Schonbrunn Zoo in Austria on Wednesday.

To ensure the well-being of the giant pandas in Austria, Chinese experts visited Austria at the beginning of the year to provide technical guidance on venue renovation, specifying standards for panda enclosure facilities, feeding management, food supply, health care and other requirements.

The giant pandas Yuan Yuan and Yang Yang, who are now in Austria, will return to China after the expiration of the agreement this year. After that, Austria will carry out venue renovation and enhancement preparations to welcome the arrival of the new pair of giant pandas with a more comfortable and safer living environment.

The Schonbrunn Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world and is known as the most beautiful zoo in Europe, with a history of more than 270 years. The China Wildlife Conservation Association and the zoo started their first phase of cooperation in 2003.

Over the past 20 years, both sides have achieved fruitful results in giant panda conservation breeding, scientific research, technical exchanges, personnel training and public education, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

The giant pandas Yang Yang and Long Hui set a European record by breeding 4 litters with 5 cubs through natural mating.