News and Media Releases

Speaking from the Bifengxia panda centre in Sichuan, Dr West told The Australian it had been "hugely exciting" to see the giant bears ahead of their move to his zoo in September.

"It now feels real to be here in panda country and know they're well," Dr West said.

The giant pandas, among the world's rarest animals, will be coming to Australia as part of an international breeding and conservation program.

It is the first time pandas will have been lent to an Australian zoo for a long-term stay, after two giant pandas spent three months in Melbourne and Sydney in 1988 as China's gift for the nation's Bicentennial celebrations.

Escorted by staff from the reserve, Dr West was given several minutes with the female of the panda pair, Funi, 3.

"I was able to touch her head; it was carefully controlled," he said. "She was very calm and she was munching on bamboo and apples."

But the Adelaide Zoo supremo was not allowed to enter Wang Wang's enclosure, with staff fearing the 110kg male might not react well to the stranger.

"The Chinese staff we met described him as very strong," he said.

"Our new Chinese friends weren't going to risk the diplomatic incident that it could create."

In his time at the sanctuary, Dr West discussed the health and nutrition of the pandas, ascertained that they were fit and saw their healthy coats.

The pair will spend their first 30 days in quarantine before moving to a purpose-built 2000sqm enclosure, monitored by 24-hour closed-circuit cameras, and complete with chilled rocks and landscaping to recreate their living environment at the breeding centre and in the wild.