Walking around, all Kai Kai Xin Xin !

In just a few days' time, Singapore will be getting our very own pair of pandas, a loan from China.   They will be staying in their specially prepared enclosure in the Singapore Zoo's new River Safari area.  I'm looking forward to seeing them.

But I must admit that I managed to get a good look at a pair of pandas - in  Macau.  Not many people know this, but Macau too has its own pair of pandas, Kai Kai and Xin Xin (or Hoi Hoi and Sam Sam in Cantonese).  Also a loan from China - in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Macau SAR.  The pandas stay in the  Macau Panda Pavilion in the Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane, the southernmost part of Macau. There are a few caged enclosures with some monkeys in them, and two ostriches in a large run beside the cages.  But there can be no doubt what the main attraction is.

The pavillion opens at 10am and visitors get to look at them for one hour.  We got there at 10am, and were fortunate in that there were not many other visitors - absolutely wonderful,  no one jostling us and enabling us to take nice photos and videos of the cute pandas.

So here they are: Kai Kai and Xin Xin!

 First: this is Kai Kai.  He was pretty active, wandering around his enclosure looking for food.  I must say I never expected that the pandas were so tall - apparently they grow to about 150cm in length. Even so, they look so adorable still with their large heads,big eyes (or maybe their eye patches just make their eyes look big) and generally friendly face.

Kai Kai has cup shaped ears, peanut-shaped eye patches and a more pointed muzzle.

Xin Xin on the other hand has more rounded ears, and a more rounded face.  She loves to eat.... and was spending most of the time we were there eating.  The last few minutes, she spent sleeping.  Not the most exciting panda to photograph.  

Nonetheless, a truly fun and enjoyable visit.  I do hope that our Singapore pandas arrive safely and settle down happily in their new home.  They are very much welcomed!

See more photos and even two videos of Kai Kai and Xin Xin at my Flickr set on Macau..