Construction of Home for Pandas Begins in Three Months

PUTRAJAYA, July 17 (Bernama) -- Work to build a home for the panda bears loaned by China to Malaysia is expected to begin in three months' time. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said the home covering 1.01 hectare at the Wetland Park here will be installed with infrastructure similar to the pandas' natural habitat. The facility is estimated to cost RM30 million (US$9.5 million). Malaysia is expected to receive the bears under an agreement signed last June 15 as a symbol to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties to be celebrated in 2014. Several samples of bamboo species from Malaysia had been sent to China to ascertain their compatibility as food for the pandas. About 6.07 hectare of the Wetland Park site will be used to plant bamboo. -- BERNAMA