Panda Pair, An An & Ke Ke Is China’s Furry Gift To Hong Kong; We Can’t “Bear” The Cuteness!

To celebrate 75 years of the Communist Party rule, the Chinese government sent an unusual, furry gift to Hong Kong: a panda pair. An An and Ke Ke, the five-year-old panda siblings received a warm welcome at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park. Visitors are already counting the days until when they can catch a glimpse of the cute animals.

Hong Kong Welcomes Panda Pair Ke Ke & An An

At 11 am, the giant pandas landed at Hong Kong International Airport, where they were greeted with a grand welcoming ceremony. They were escorted by elite motorcyclists who normally escort VIPs. But the giant pandas are no less than VIPs in Hong Kong. A gift by the Chinese government to the nation, the five-year-old pandas were ushered into their new home across town at Ocean Park.

The furry animals arrived from a breeding centre in Sichuan province, China. The duo were loaded onto a truck with forklifts, as a line of staff bade them farewell with a crate of snacks. They were then ferried 1350 km away to Hong Kong. Zoo keepers from Ocean Park eagerly awaited their arrival. As per a report by CNN World, a zoo keeper from Ocean Park arrived in Beijing weeks earlier to help the bears acclimatise to his scent and voice.

Also Read: 8 Best Places In The World To Spot Red Pandas

We Can’t “Bear” The Cuteness!

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee stated to CNN that An An, a male panda weighing 130 kg, was strong, clever and nimble. Ke Ke, his sister, weighing 100 kg was cute, gentle and good at climbing. The park announced the arrival of the pandas with the cutest Instagram posts on their Hong Kong Ocean World page. Ke Ke and An An are seen slowly adapting to their new home in Hong Kong, curiously exploring the space.

Also Read: 8 Best Places In The World To Spot Pandas

However, visitors cannot get a glimpse of these cuties until December this year. The pandas will undergo a 30-day quarantine, at least. Thereafter, experts will assess their condition to the adaptation and determine if they are ready for public viewing.

Meanwhile, we can’t help but continue soaking in the cutest pictures of An An and Ke Ke, Hong Kong’s most adorable new residents.

Cover Image Courtesy: @hkoceanpark/ Instagram

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