Two giant pandas arrive Qatar from China
Doha, The Gulf Observer: Two giant pandas from China, 4-year-old male Jing Jing and 3-year-old female Si Hai, arrived in Doha, Qatar on a special plane on Wednesday.
This is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East.
The pandas, named Suhail and Soraya in Arabic, are also to mark the upcoming football World Cup, which is due to take place in November and December in Qatar.
The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment.
Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center.
Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team.
In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries.
