Fans stream in to bid farewell
Lhinping’s devotees fret as popular panda prepares for trip to China, writes Apinya Wipatayotin in Chiang Mai
Lhinping’s fans are streaming to Chiang Mai Zoo to spend their final moments with the popular panda before she is sent to China on Saturday. China hopes Lhinping will pair with a mate when she arrives.
Wachairaporn Sangnak, a 53-yearold who flew from Bangkok to visit Lhinping, said she travels to see the panda at least six times a year.
She spent around 20,000 baht to join the volunteer programme taking care of the panda. Volunteers feed Lhinping bamboo and clean her enclosure.
Ms Wachairaporn said she has more than 1,000 clips of Lhinping. She recorded the panda’s activities which were broadcast on a 24-hour television channel when the bear was very young.
‘‘I am worried about how she can live in a very different environment,’’ Ms Wachairaporn said. ‘‘She is treated as a baby doll here.’’
Japanese tourist Akemi Tanaka, 42, who flew from Osaka to visit Lhinping, said she plans to see the panda in China.
Lhinping will leave Chiang Mai around 10.30am on Saturday.
The flight to Chengdu’s airport will take about three and a half hours.
She will spend about two hours at customs and then be taken on a onehour drive to new home at the China Conservation and Research Centre’s Giant Panda Du Jiangyan Base.
Kannika Jantarangsri, head of the Conservation section of Chiang Mai Zoo, who will take care of Lhinping during the trip to Chengdu, said the panda is getting used to the new cage which will carry her to China.
Lhinping is regularly taken into the cage with bamboo, fruit and snacks, and she is showing no adverse reaction to it, Ms Kannika said.
The vet will load the cage containing Lhinping on to a truck and move around inside the zoo for a rehearsal before she actually leaves.
Lhinping will have to stay inside the cage for about eight hours as she travels to her new home, Ms Kannika said, adding that she will check on the panda in the cargo space twice during the flight.
The cage will be full with bamboo and other food, which is enough for the trip, she said.
Ms Kannika has also ensured the panda will be safe during the trip, saying the Thai Airways flight had received animal transport service permission from the International Air Transport Association for the journey.
She added that Lhinhui and Chuang Chuang —Lhinping’s parents — had been flown by Thai Airways.
Lhinping will be quarantined for two months before being paired with a mate, Ms Kannika said, adding that China has prepared six male pandas for her to choose from. The breeding period is from February to May.
‘‘The panda is an isolated animal. It can become familiar with any people who give it food,’’ she said in response to concerns the bear might find it hard to adjust to a new environment.
More than 30 fans will join the trip with Lhinping.
The panda will stay in China until October next year. After the bear finds her mate, the couple will return to Chiang Mai Zoo.
Meanwhile, the zoo will send both Lhinhui and Chuang Chuang back to China before the return of Lhinping and her mate.
Anuwong Wongvichian, among the Chiang Mai zookeepers who have taken care of Lhinping since the panda was born four years ago, said he was a sad about seeing her go, but knew Lhinping needed to go back to have a family.
‘‘I am proud she was born in Thailand,’’ he said. ‘‘My duty will end when she leaves the zoo.’’
A superstar at Chiang Mai Zoo, Lhinping has been visited by 370,000 people since last September, generating revenues of 15.8 million baht, according to the zoo.