Public May Get To Visit Pandas For Free For One Month - Natural Resources And Environment Minister

PUTRAJAYA, June 9 (Bernama) - The public may be given free entry for one month to visit the giant pandas from China at Zoo Negara after they are given new names by Prime Minister Najib Razak on June 25. Natural Resources and Environment Minister G. Palanivel said he will propose it to the zoo in honour of the presence of Fu Wa (Male) and Feng Yi (female) in the country. "I will speak with Zoo Negara president (Zaharin Md Arif) to allow free entry to the public for one month. "We will limit 1,200 people to see the pandas daily or 200 people per 20-minute visit," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Water Resources Management Forum 2014, here Monday. Palanivel said after one month, the public who want to see the pandas may be charged US$6 (RM20) for adults and US$3 (RM10) for children. Loaned by the Chinese government, the pandas are placed in a special enclosure at Zoo Negara to allow them to adjust to the new environment. Palanivel said the pandas are in quarantine and will be moved to another location on June 21 or 22 before the opening ceremony by the prime minister. "The pandas are healthy, their weight has increased and are getting used to the Malaysian environment. "The Chinese ambassador has given three new names and we will choose suitable ones for the pandas." On May 25, Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor visited the pandas and uploaded photographs on his Facebook page describing them as symbol of peace in Chinese culture. The giant pandas will be in Malaysia for 10 years as symbol of 40 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China on May 31. Via the International Giant Panda Conservation Agreement between Malaysia and China signed in 2012, Malaysia has the opportunity to conduct research on giant panda conservation in addition to develop and train experts in the field. -- BERNAMA