Two giant pandas are the new stars at Madrid zoo
Visitors to Spain's Madrid Zoo Aquarium were on Thursday introduced to a giant panda couple from China. Male Jin Xi and female Zhu Yu, both born in 2020, arrived last month at the zoo following the renewal of its agreement for giant panda protection with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. They completed a smooth quarantine period before making their debut. Sofia, the former queen of Spain, hosted the official introduction of the three-year-old bears. "We are proud to host this unique species and to contribute to its preservation," Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said. China's Ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, highlighted that "the friendly bond" created by the pandas would unite the two peoples and serve as "an important symbol of China-Spain friendship." After the debut of the giant panda couple, visitors to the zoo can now participate in educational activities every weekend. "We try to bring information about pandas to the public so they can know pandas better and how we can protect the species," zoo staff Luis Manchado, who is responsible for the educational section, told Xinhua News Agency. The two pandas are set to remain in Spain for the next 10 years. China has loaned its treasured bears to overseas zoos over the years as goodwill ambassadors, while also running conservation programmes back home that have seen their status improve from endangered to vulnerable. There are 728 pandas in zoos and breeding centres around the world. Spain has been part of the conservation programme for more than 40 years. (Xinhua/Reuters)