Harbin Northern Forest Zoo, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - guest home to a 8-year old male panda.
Name: Being called as a 帅小伙, meaning "handsome young guy", but it has not been officially named.
Sex: Male
DOB: 2001
Harbin Northern Forest Zoo (哈尔滨北方森林动物园) is one of the seven largest zoos in China, and it has opened to public since September 28, 2004. It locates 41 kilometers from the icy city of Harbin, capital of northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province.
The main entrance of Harbin Northern Forest Zoo
The Zoo covers 848 hectares, and has over 5,000 animals in 240 different species, including Manchurian tiger, white tiger, wolf, cheetah, African elephant, polar bear, penguin, and rhinoceros. To help the animals get through Harbin's freezing winters, particularly those from tropical areas, special enclosures with heating systems are equipped in accordance with their natural habitats.
The Triplets of White Tiger Born in Harbin Zoo Aug 2007
Giant Panda arriving at Harbin Northern Forest Zoo
On the afternoon of April 28, 2009, an 8-year old male giant panda arrived at the Harbin Northern Forest Zoo from Sichuan. The panda is on lease from Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center and will stay in Harbin for one year before his lease expires and returns to his native Sichuan home.
So far, this 8-year male has not been named, except being called as a 帅小伙 meaning "handsome young guy". Currently the Zoo is planning to collect votes from public to name the panda.
Panda Arrived in Harbin Zoo April 28, 2009
To welcome this "handsome young guy", the original panda compound in the Zoo was re-decorated. The indoor area of the compound has about 60 square meters and it is decorated with bamboo and ivy, simulating a real bamboo forest. There is also an outside playing ground with about 200 square meters, which includes a pool, a rock garden-style slide, and a wooden climbing platform.
It is not the first time for the Zoo to house the giant panda. The first time Harbin had a panda was during the 90's. The second time was in 2005, when a borrowed panda, named Le Le (乐乐) from Beijing Zoo was displayed in Harbin for 6 months.
Since the arrival of the "Handsome Young Guy", the Zoo has been air delivered the fresh bamboos from Sichuan every 3 to 7 days to meet the panda appetite. The Zoo officials said that the "Handsome Young Guy" ate about 25 kilos of fresh bamboos every day.
More information on Harbin Northern Forest Zoo:
Harbin Northern Forest Zoo (哈尔滨北方森林动物园)
黑龙江省哈尔滨市阿城东南部鸽子洞
Tel :0451-56556666, and 0451-56556999
Official Website: http://www.hrbzoo.com/
