A pair of adorable giant pandas are keeping their original names after a theme park asked the public for suggestions and received 22,600 responses.
Five-year-old An An and Ke Ke moved from Beijing to Hong Kong as part of a donation to boost tourism.
And when their big move was announced, workers at Ocean Park, the animal’s new home, asked visitors what they should call their new residents, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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But after the park raked in over 22,600 submissions, executives decided not to change the pandas’ names.
It has been reported that a concerned animal lover informed them that it can be difficult for pandas to get used to new names after the age of five, which is 15 in human years.
Nonetheless, the pandas have now made their big debut and are set to be a big hit with theme park visitors.
A ceremony was held at Ocean Park on Saturday (8 December), where workers revealed a new panda enclosure which will host six of the animals.
A spokesman for the theme park said: “The giant pandas mean a lot to Hong Kong.
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“It demonstrates the central government’s support and care to Hong Kong.
“It also sets an example of successful national conservation work.
“The giant panda is also an ambassador of both our country and Hong Kong.”
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Opened in 1977, Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s largest theme park.
It also conducts animal conservation research and boasts around two dozen animal attractions including an alligator marsh, aquariums and an Arctic fox den.
Jason Baker, the Asia vice president of PETA, said: “Pandas are not objects to be gifted for diplomatic purposes.
“They are intelligent and social animals that form close bonds with their families and friends.”
Although they once roamed over a large portion of Asia, scientists currently estimate the population of wild giant pandas is only 1,864.
This makes them a seriously vulnerable species.
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