German rock star Peter Maffay has adopted a giant panda reared
in captive in this capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province on
Monday.
"I prefer panda over the World Cup right now," said Peter
Maffay, a household name in Germany, who is on a charity tour for
the protection of children in Chengdu.
He named the adopted panda Lily after the ice princess, a
character in his theater play called Tabaluga in 1996.
The 57-year-old rock star, who has sold some 35 million records,
has traveled to 13 countries on four continents since the beginning
of this year on his current charity tour, called "Encounters,"
which is aimed at raising money and creating awareness of
children's safety.
Maffay said that the giant panda has become a symbol for
endangered animals. He hoped that his adoption of the giant panda
will help create a public awareness in Germany of China's efforts
to protect pandas.
The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species
and is found only in China. An estimated 1,500 pandas live in China
and 48 are being raised in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda
Breeding.
(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2006)
