Hongkongers who have been looking forward to seeing the first pandas born in Hong Kong won’t have to wait much longer. The twin cubs will make their first appearance to the public on February 16, 2025, at Ocean Park’s Giant Panda Adventure exhibit. The pandas — a male and a female — do not have names yet, but Hong Kong leader John Lee said that he will likely announce the details of a naming campaign shortly.
When can Ocean Park visitors see the panda cubs?
According to an announcement on Ocean Park Hong Kong’s official Instagram page, the panda twins will first be at a greeting ceremony on February 15. The pair will then make their official debut to park visitors on February 16 at the park’s Giant Panda Adventure section. The other four pandas — Ying Ying, Le Le, An An, and Ke Ke — will be at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures.
However, the nearly six-month-old cubs do not have names yet. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said that a naming competition may be in the works. “I’m all for naming campaign so everyone can get involved… [and] share in the joy of this big family. I will be announcing the details later,” he said.
How many pandas are there in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong currently has six giant pandas. The oldest are Ying Ying and Le Le, the parents of the panda cubs born in August 2024. The 19-year-old Ying Ying also holds the record for being the oldest first-time panda mother in the world. Two five-year-old pandas from Mainland China also arrived in the city and went on view last December.
In 2023, the park announced that it would welcome more red pandas as part of a collaboration with the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Sichuan Province. In addition, the stay of its current resident red pandas on loan from the Mainland — Tai Shan, Cong Cong, and Rou Rou — was extended by another 20 years.
Image credits: Ocean Park Hong Kong