Wang Wang (born 31 October 2005) and Fu Ni (born 23 August 2006) are the only giant pandas who live in the Southern Hemisphere. Born at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre in China, the pair relocated to Adelaide Zoo in Adelaide, South Australia, on 29 November 2009. Wang Wang and Fu Ni were on loan for ten years for $1 million annually as part of a giant panda breeding program,[1][2] but have not bred after more than five unsuccessful attempts by the zoo.[3] Fu Ni has experienced many false pregnancies, which are difficult to distinguish from actual pregnancies. The loan has been described as an instance of "panda diplomacy" between Australia and China.[4][5]
On 24 November 2019, the state government of South Australia signed a deal to extend the pandas' stay in Adelaide for five more years.[citation needed]
- ^ Peddie, Clare (26 December 2010). "Wang Wang leaves giant panda debt". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Adelaide Pandas
- ^ Desperate Adelaide Zoo hope 'panda porn' will inspire love ABC News, 20 September 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Zhou, Christina (22 December 2018). "Panda politics and why China's adorable ambassadors are an important diplomatic tool". ABC News. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- ^ Shepherd, Tory (24 September 2021). "Notoriously sex-shy, Adelaide's giant pandas to try natural breeding in hope of elusive cub". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2023.