American-born panda to meet public in Sichuan
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Tai Shan, a giant panda born in the United States, will greet the public on March 9 at a panda breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
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American-born panda Tai Shan eats bamboo in Wolong Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 23, 2010. Tai Shan is adapting well to life in his new home in southwest China's Sichuan Province after returning to China. He will begin to receive visitors on March 5 after one-month quarantine. [Xinhua/Chen Xie] |
The 4-year-old male would conclude his one-month quarantine and debut at the the Ya'an Bifeng Gorge Breeding Base of the Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, said Li Desheng, the center's deputy director.
Tai Shan, who was born in July 2005 and raised at the National Zoo of Washington D.C., arrived at the center on Feb. 5.
After spending more than 20 days together, Tai Shan and his keeper, Wu Daifu, have been familiar with each other, Li said, adding that the panda could understand some Sichuan dialect now.
The panda could sit, squat or stand up under Wu's instructions, and receive health checkups without narcosis, Li said.
On March 9, it would move to his 30-square-meter new home and become neighbor of 14 giant pandas aged two to four.
