오션파크로 떠나는 즐거운 여행에 필요한 모든 것
Ocean Park was brimming with joy as the eagerly awaited names of the giant panda twin cubs – Jia Jia and De De – selected through the Giant Panda Twin Cubs Naming Competition organised by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and co-organised by Ocean Park Corporation, were officially revealed in a heartwarming event today.
The Announcement of Names of Giant Panda Twin Cubs Event was honoured by the presence of officiating guests including Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Benson Kwok, Director of Immigration; and Paulo Pong, Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation. Distinguished guests in attendance included Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Angelina Cheung, Commissioner for Tourism. Representatives from Ocean Park Corporation included Ivan Wong, Chief Executive; Ysanne Chan, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer; Howard Chuk, Head of Zoological Operations and Conservation; and the giant panda caretakers.
“Ocean Park is deeply grateful for the trust of the Central Government and the HKSAR Government, allowing our team to contribute to the great mission of giant panda conservation,” said Paulo Pong, Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation. “We would also like to thank the public for their support of the giant panda twin cubs. The nearly 36,000 entries received in the naming competition fully demonstrate everyone’s extraordinary love and attention towards them. Through engagement and education, we hope to deepen the connection between the community and these treasured animal ambassadors, and inspire visitors to learn about the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and reversing extinction trends.”
Ying Ying unveils the names of the giant panda cubs
The names were unveiled through a video where Ying Ying was seen opening a present, followed by a pop-up reveal of the cubs’ names, much to the delight of the audience. The winning names, Jia Jia (加加) for “Elder Sister”, and De De (得得) for “Little Brother”, were submitted by Lee Yuk Fan. The judging panel opined that the names were rich in meaning.
“Elder sister” is named “Jia Jia”, with the Chinese character for “Jia” (加) conveying the message of support. Having the same pronunciation as the Chinese characters for “home” (家) and “auspices” (嘉) in both Cantonese and Putonghua, “Jia” also features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace, embodying the prosperity of families and the nation as well as the happiness of its people.
“Little brother” is named “De De”. As the Chinese character “De” (得) means “to succeed”, the name has connotation that Hong Kong is successful in everything. “De” also shares the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for “virtue” (德) in both Cantonese and Putonghua, suggesting that giant pandas, our national treasures, possess the virtues cherished by Chinese people.
Commemorative Certificates of Birth presented by the Director of Immigration
To celebrate the birth of the first pigeon pair of giant panda twin cubs in Hong Kong, Benson Kwok, Director of Immigration, presented to Ocean Park two Commemorative Certificates of Birth for the cubs respectively, each with their official name. The commemorative certificates will be proudly displayed at Giant Panda Adventure. Visitors will also find newly installed name tags for Jia Jia and De De at the exhibit, creating the perfect backdrop for capturing memorable photos with the giant panda twins.
Born to mother Ying Ying on 15 August 2024, the twin cubs have captured the hearts of locals and tourists alike since their birth. Thriving under the expert care of the Park’s animal care team, the playful cubs now weigh over 21kg each and continue to grow strong and healthy. In recent weeks, they have even started mimicking their mother by nibbling on bamboo leaves, though they are not quite ready to eat them and still rely on milk.
As their personalities develop, the twins are showing distinct traits: Jia Jia enjoys climbing trees, exercising and exploring the habitat by herself, while De De is quite outgoing, preferring to be close to the caretakers and Ying Ying, seeking playtime. Starting today, Ocean Park has also opened the Alpine area of Giant Panda Adventure for Jia Jia and De De to interact with Ying Ying, providing a more challenging and stimulating environment that will help them continue to develop their life skills.
Support giant panda conservation through bidding on paw print paintings
Ocean Park invites everyone to visit Jia Jia, De De, and the entire giant panda family in the Park, and encourages the public to take action and support giant panda conservation. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), dedicated to promoting Asian biodiversity, is holding an online charity auction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. This auction offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of Hong Kong’s giant panda history, featuring five sets of limited-edition paw print paintings from Jia Jia and De De’s 100-day celebration, with one set bearing the special serial number 001, making it an invaluable collector’s item! Bidding for the giant panda cub paw print paintings starts at HK$10,000, with all proceeds directly benefiting OPCFHK’s conservation projects. To learn more and support OPCFHK, please visit https://hk.givergy.com/opcfhk.
