Tourists crowd Chiang Mai Zoo on Chinese New Year

CHIANG MAI, Jan 285 (TNA) -- Thai and Chinese tourists have flocked to the Chiang Mai Zoo since this morning to witness the cuteness of the zoo's famous panda ambassadors, Chuang-Chuang and Lin Hui, where the visitors have also wished them to have babies again soon. Chiang Mai Zoo Director Niphon Wichairat, led tourists to present the Chinese New Year gifts to the pandas, which came in the form of the cuddly pandas' favourite fruits, such as apples and grapes, packed inside red bags. A large number of visitors, both Thai and Chinese, were witnesses of the event, as most have come to celebrate the Chinese New Year and enjoy the pandas' cuteness, during which some have wished the panda couple to have babies again soon, as the female panda, Lin Hui is already in heat. Mr Niphon said Lin Hui has been showing signs of being in heat for the past 2-3 days, noting that the condition has come sooner than usual. He further added that the zoo has already prepared a team of veterinaries with the expertise on breeding, in which the team would immediately start the mating process once Lin Hui's hormones have increased. (TNA)