Giant Pandas Arrive On Taiwan

Two giant pandas, Tuan-tuan and Yuan-yuan, arrived on Taiwan this evening. The pandas are from the Sichuan province in southwest China, and it's a big deal: TVBS news dedicated an entire minute of air time of the two pandas quietly consuming their first meal of bamboo shoots in Taipei (imagine, an entire minute of two pandas silently chewing...chewing...chewing). It's as if Taiwan has received the John Lennon and Paul McCartney of pandas.

The pandas are symbolic because this "gift" indicates warming ties between Mainland China and Taiwan. Not surprisingly, when their first names ("tuan yuan") are said together it means "reunion," which may have political overtones considering that's precisely what the Mainland is hoping for.

The pandas arrived along with a 32-member delegation and had an elaborate "6-star" facility constructed for them at Taipei Zoo in Muzha by Shin Kong Group at a cost of NT$310 million (US$9.37 million). The panda exhibit will open to the public on January 25, just in time for Chinese Lunar New Year (no coincidence, it's when just about everything else will be closed). Expect extensive news coverage of the vast throngs of excited children (and adults) eager to see the exhibit. Hopefully the showrooms will be soundproof so the crowds don't frighten our two new furry friends.

If you don't think the pandas will be living in style, their facility includes a modern international conference hall for politicians, VIPs and other movers and shakers to observe them while wheeling and dealing; perhaps local companies hope that they'll score a better deal while international business representatives are overwhelmed by the site of the two pandas rolling around and chomping on bamboo? An expansive hall on the second floor is where the rest of us could view the two cuddly-looking animals. The ground floor has two air-conditioned "showrooms" (245 and 210 square meters, respectively), which will be naturally ventilated during the winter.

Will the two mate? That's what zoo officials are hoping for. If you think human conception is difficult, pandas have a three-month mating period, and during that time the female's estrous cycle lasts for only three days (and the fact that the male panda has a very small penis doesn't help, either). If you suggest panda porn to get the two in the mood, you're not far off: according to one local newspaper, "The zoo is...planning to show Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan videos of mating pandas to try to arouse their interest in mating."

Expect to see a plethora of panda t-shirts, dolls, and other panda paraphernalia for sale at the zoo, department stores, various retail locations and of course, at night markets around the island. Remember Hulkamania? In about a month, we'll see on Taiwan Pandamania running wild...

The story was reported here and here.