Shanghai-gifted red pandas win hearts in Taipei despite DPP curbs on cross-Strait exchanges

TAIPEI -- Two red pandas gifted by Shanghai Zoo made their public debut at Taipei Zoo this week, drawing enthusiastic crowds even though the island's authorities rejected a Shanghai delegation's applications to attend the welcoming ceremony.

The three-year-old male, Le Le, was the first of the pair to meet the public on Wednesday, while the two-year-old female, Tian Tian, is scheduled to make her debut on Thursday.

The pair arrived in Taipei on June 6 under an exchange program launched through the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum. After completing more than a month of quarantine and acclimatization, both animals are in good health and are settling into their new home, zoo officials said.

At a welcoming ceremony, Taipei Zoo introduced the red pandas' Chinese names, saying they reflected the public's wish that the animals would bring "tian" (sweetness) and "le" (joy) to visitors.

Le Le quickly charmed onlookers with his reddish-brown coat, round face and bushy, ringed tail. At ease in his outdoor enclosure, he climbed elevated platforms, wandered through the vegetation and eagerly explored a bamboo enrichment toy prepared by his keepers.

Zoo officials described Le Le as lively and outgoing, saying he adapted quickly during quarantine and displayed a healthy appetite from the outset. Tian Tian, by contrast, was more cautious as she explored her new surroundings but has remained active and in good condition.

To welcome the newcomers, Taipei Zoo upgraded the red panda enclosure to better replicate the animals' natural habitat, adding interconnected climbing structures, rope ladders, shaded shelters and additional hiding spaces. Viewing areas were also redesigned with floor-to-ceiling glass panels and lower sightlines to improve visibility for children.

"We upgraded the enclosure to provide them with a richer environment for climbing and hiding, while also improving the viewing experience for visitors," said Chen Hui-lun, head of the zoo's temperate animal area.