Mainland panda pair regaining weight after first week in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Dec. 29 (Chinese media) -- The panda pair from the mainland are gradually

regaining the weight they lost in their first week in Taiwan, said the Taipei

zoo Monday.

"Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan (the pandas' names) are in a very good condition.

They are doing quite well to adapt to the new environment," said zoo spokesman

Jason S.C. Chin.

The panda pair lost some weight due to the adjustment of a new home and

diet, but the weight loss was within an "acceptable" range, he said.

Since their arrival on Tuesday, Tuan Tuan's weight dropped from112 kg to

108.4 kg, but now back to 110.2 kg. His mate Yuan Yuan lost 3.8 kg from 114 kg,

but has regained 1.2 kg now.

"At the beginning they refused Taiwan bamboo. Now they are getting used to

it. About 90 percent of the bamboo they eat is local," he said. "I think they

will have a completely local diet in next three to five days."

The panda pair are also developing a very good friendship with Taiwan

feeders. "They respond to the feeders when their names are called and follow

instructions when the feeders record their weight," he said.

The Taipei zoo has built a new house for the pandas. They are living in two

rooms, measuring 254 and 210 square meters respectively. The inside wall is

painted with pictures of snow-capped mountains, dense forest and rivers,

resembling the southwestern Sichuan Province of their origin.

They also have a 765-square-meter garden and playground enclosed by

4-cm-thick, noise-proof glass.

"Our next task is to well serve a large number of visitors when the pandas

meets the public," Chin said.

The zoo will improve security measures by stationing police at the panda

house and adding more security staff to maintain order, he added.