After a much-awaited announcement, Hong Kong's newborn panda cubs now bear the names Jia Jia and De De. Here's a glimpse of these adorable additions.
Hong Kong's First Indigenous Giant Pandas Officially Named: Jia Jia and De De
HONG KONG - The names of Hong Kong's first locally-born giant pandas, affectionately known as "Elder Sister" and "Little Brother," were unveiled in a ceremony at the Ocean Park theme park on Tuesday. The new names, Jia Jia and De De, have cultural and symbolic significances deeply rooted in Chinese traditions and local Hong Kong identity.
The names were selected from over 35,700 entries in a public naming contest. "Jia Jia," the name given to the female cub, means family, grace, prosperity, and symbolizes national prosperity and the public's happiness. "De De," the male cub's name, signifies success and virtue, embodying the notion that Hong Kong is successful in all aspects. Both names are written in Mandarin, a tradition for giant panda naming, but they sound close to Cantonese, the mother tongue of many Hong Kong residents, maintaining a strong cultural connection.
Ocean Park Chairman Paulo Pong stated, "It's a very positive pair of names. We had to be a bit creative here with the names." The two cubs attracted large crowds of visitors on Tuesday, with Jia Jia exploring her area and De De climbing a tree.
The pandas' birth in August, to their mother Ying Ying, who became the world's oldest first-time panda mom, has sparked public excitement and raised hopes for a tourism boost in the city. The "panda economy" has been touted by local politicians as a potential commercial opportunity.
Experts are monitoring the impact of housing six pandas on the park's business, especially given the expenses associated with caring for the animals in captivity. Ocean Park experienced a 40% growth in visitor flow and a 40% increase in overall income during a recent holiday in mainland China, and park officials hope this momentum will continue through the summer, Halloween, and Christmas seasons.
Pandas are widely recognized as China's unofficial national mascot, and the country's giant panda loan program with overseas zoos has long been viewed as a tool of Beijing's soft power diplomacy.
The Associated Press video journalist Alice Fung contributed to this report.
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