PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – Malaysia is set to bid farewell to its resident giant pandas, Fu Wa and Feng Yi, who will be returning to China next month. In their place, a new panda pair will be arriving under a renewed 10-year conservation partnership between the two countries.
The latest agreement was formalised on April 16, coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day state visit to Malaysia last week.
The collaboration allows Malaysia to host another pair of giant pandas from 2025 to 2035, continuing the longstanding International Cooperation Project on Giant Panda Conservation with China, said the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry on Saturday.
To prepare for their return, Fu Wa and Feng Yi have begun a quarantine process at the Giant Panda Conservation Centre in Zoo Negara.
“This is to ensure their health remains optimal, fulfil international permit requirements, and allow them to acclimatise before their flight back to China,” the ministry stated.
During the quarantine period, visitors will not be able to see the pandas up close, but they may still catch glimpses of them at designated times.
Fu Wa and Feng Yi arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014. Their three cubs – Nuan Nuan, Yi Yi and Sheng Yi – were born at Zoo Negara and have since been repatriated to China.
To mark the farewell, Zoo Negara will be organising a variety of public programmes, including a message board, screenings of documentaries, sessions with panda keepers, and creative competitions.
Details of these activities can be found on Zoo Negara’s website and social media platforms.
The zoo will also upgrade its facilities during the interim period ahead of receiving the new panda pair in August 2025.
“The panda collaboration reflects the close friendship between Malaysia and China and promotes the values of cooperation, sustainability and environmental awareness under Malaysia Madani,” the ministry added.
