RHENEN, The Netherlands, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The house for two giant pandas at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, a town in central Netherlands is almost ready for inspection by Chinese experts.
The Dutch people are eager to welcome Xing Ya and Wu Wen, two of the world's most protected animals, owner of the zoo told visitors on Thursday.
Marcel Boekhoorn, owner of Ouwehands Zoo, signed in October last year after 15 years of seeking an agreement with the China Wildlife Association about the arrival of Xing Ya and Wu Wen, two giant pandas now living at Wolong National Nature Reserve in China's Sichuan Province.
With Chinese workers, Ouwehands is building an indoor and an outdoor area for the protected animals.
The building, or "Pandasia", consists of two parts connected to each other with a bridge. The tiles are made by hand as tradition prescribes it in the Asian country.
Xing Ya and Wu Wen will have large indoor accommodation. A cold store for bamboo, a breeding room and work place for research team are also taken into account. There are even space for family expansion -- a nursery is prepared for the future offspring. Surrounding the building is their outdoor playground.
The construction is expected to be finished in late November. The enclosure will then be inspected by Chinese experts before a transportation plan could be made.
"All people in the Netherlands went a little crazy" when they knew that they could have two of the world's most beautiful animals in this zoo, said Willibrord van Beek, Kings Commissioner and Governor for the Province of Utrecht, where the small town of Rhenen is located.
"When Xing Ya and Wu Wen arrive at their new home here, China will have three 'ambassadors' in The Netherlands. Xing Ya and Wu Wen cannot go to The Hague to visit me, so I will come to see them quite often at their home," said Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken when visiting the panda enclosure at the zoo.
"The panda enclosure here is a magnificent and beautiful building with a strong touch of Chinese culture. I am sure that Xing Ya and Wu Wen will love it and feel like home here," said Chen Ribiao, Counsellor of the Chinese embassy.
There are only about 2,000 giant pandas in the world. A conservation reliant vulnerable species, most of them live in captivity in China. China has agreed to carry out joint research on pandas with 12 countries, among them six in Europe: Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Belgium. The Netherlands will be the 7th European country to welcome one of the world's most endangered animals.
"The Chinese people believe that human and nature should coexist in harmony while the Dutch nation has set a good example in respecting the nature. Our joint research on panda shows our sense of responsibility to conserve the rare and endangered animals and to protect the environment," noted Chen Ribiao.
Ouwehands Zoo will launch education program on endangered species and research projects on the breeding of panda in collaboration with Wageningen, the Dutch leading university and research institute on agricultural and nature.
Giant pandas reach sexual maturity between the ages of four and eight, and may be reproductive until age 20. A female panda is fertile only during two to three days a year. Scientists working on captive breeding of pandas have made many advances in breeding programs and in knowledge of panda mating cycles and behaviours, pregnancies, and the rearing of captive born cubs.
Jose Kok, head of research projects of Ouwehands Zoo, will take care of the two giant pandas when they arrive. She just came back from Wolong National Nature Reserve where she has visited three times last year to get familiar with Xing Ya and Wu Wen.
"They are in very good shape. We hope they will live a happy life in our zoo. And we are creating all conditions with the hope that they will mate naturally here," she told Xinhua.
