They’ve left a paw print on our heart, and now it’s time to say farewell to Giant Pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni.
Adelaide Zoo is calling on all panda-loving South Australians to visit the zoo and wish the black-and-white duo a fond farewell before they head home to China.
Director of Adelaide Zoo, Dr Phil Ainsley, said the pair will head into a short quarantine period in mid-October before returning home, and encouraged everyone to come along to share their giant well wishes.
“There is just under a month to go before Wang Wang and Fu Ni begin their quarantine,” Dr Ainsley said.
“We are just going through the regulatory processes to see what this looks like and will then move into the next stage of planning for their transport home to China.
“We’ve been blown away by the outpouring of love for Wang Wang and Fu Ni; in fact our keepers have started to collect some beautiful messages and drawings from the community.
“We have loved reading the memories and messages coming in from not only Adelaide, but across Australia and the world. So to collect these lovely mementos, our team have put together a brilliant Panda Post Box!
“We would love everyone who has been part of our Giant Panda journey to submit their message. The pandas will even have some special enrichment to rip open created from the letters and drawings they receive!”
Dr Ainsley said the impact Wang Wang and Fu Ni have had on South Australia is giant; not only as icons for our State but also as ambassadors for their species.
“Since Fu Ni and Wang Wang’s arrival 15 years ago, the conservation status of Giant Pandas has improved in the wild; from endangered to vulnerable,” he said.
“This is an incredible conservation achievement for those working with the species in China, around the world and right here at Adelaide Zoo.”
The Hon Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said: “For the past decade and a half, Adelaide Zoo’s star pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni have delighted intrastate, interstate and international visitors while helping conservationists learn more about this vulnerable species.
“As their 15-year stay in South Australia is coming to an end, we would like to thank the Adelaide Zoo for providing a wonderful home for the black-and-white duo and we would also like to give our panda-loving South Australian’s families the opportunity to express their love and gratitude towards the beloved giant pandas and farewell them in the weeks to come.
“We are also incredibly grateful to China for sharing the pandas with us and offering us the unique opportunity to welcome the new giant panda couple soon.
“We look forward to continuing to help Giant Panda conservation and gain a better understanding of pandas living in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Panda Post Boxes will be set up in the Panda Shop and in Bamboo Forest from today.
For those from far away or who can’t attend the zoo in person, written messages and videos for Wang Wang and Fu Ni can be submitted online at adelaidezoo.com.au/farewellwangwangandfuni or by emailing [email protected].
Adelaide Zoo will welcome new Giant Pandas, Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull) and Yi Lan (ee-lun) to Bamboo Forest later this year.
Zoos SA looks forward to sharing more black-and-white news with the community as the next chapter of the zoo’s Giant Panda journey begins.
For more information or to submit your message for Wang Wang and Fu Ni online, please visit adelaidezoo.com.au/farewellwangwangandfuni
