PANDA CUB NOT IMPRESSED BY FRANCE’S FIRST LADY
FRANCE’S first baby panda has a name four months after his birth.
Chinese dignitaries and French first lady Brigitte Macron chose Yuan Meng, which means “the realisation of a wish” or “accomplishment of a dream”. A naming ceremony held on Monday at the Beauval Zoo south of Paris was an important diplomatic moment, but the young male panda had other priorities. Yuan Meng growled and jumped when zoo director Rodolphe Delord reached over his glass-walled enclosure to offer a pet.
The panda also jumped when the first lady, who was standing next to Delord, tapped his glass enclosure.
Yuan Meng’s parents are on loan to Beauval from China, and the cub will be sent to a Chinese panda reserve when he is weaned.
Tradition holds that China retains the right to name panda cubs born in captivity. Brigitte Macron – considered the panda’s “godmother” – officially announced the name.
“Yuan Meng and his parents represent the bond between the countries which have a lot to share,” Mrs Macron said.
There are about 1800 pandas living in the wild in China and about 400 in captivity worldwide.