KUALA LUMPUR: Despite activists crying foul and worries among experts that Malaysia would be ill-equipped to host two pandas on loan from China, the deal went forward anyway on Friday. Malaysia's government signed an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA), People's Republic of China (PRC) which will officially pave the way for the loan of a pair of giant pandas to Malaysia. It is part of the two countries' efforts to boost diplomatic relations, however, Malaysian animal rights activists had called for the deal to be canceled, citing animal rights concerns. “I am definitely worried over what is going to happen next for the pandas,” activist and university student Mohira Hassan told Bikyamasr.com. “They should not have come in the first place,” she added. Their concerns have been echoed by others as well, even experts. The Wetlands Park in Putrajaya, which has been announced as the preferred location for the two pandas, would need to construct a proper indoor habitat for the two baby pandas, which are of opposite genders. The enclosure needs to be air-conditioned as the adorable but endangered mountainous animals are not used to living in a tropical climate. “It must include a playground for the pandas to exercise and a den for them to sleep in. There must also be a back-up for the air-conditioning system as the pandas cannot wait for it to be repaired if the air-condition breaks down. “It is better for a local keeper to head to China to be trained and be with the pandas for at least six months to study its habits, likes and dislikes before they are brought here,” experts said. For now, the questions remain over how Malaysia will care for the pandas, and any hiccup could prove to be fatal for the animals.
