One of the pandas at Panda Park in Al Khor. PIC: QNA
Two giant pandas ‘Thuraya’ and ‘Suhail’ arrived in Qatar yesterday as a gift from China ahead of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 within the framework of strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
By hosting the new guests, characterised by their bold black-and-white coat and rotund body, Qatar has become the first country in the Middle East and 20th country in the world that has giant pandas.
Panda pair is settling in their new home, a 120,000sqm state-of-the-art facility, beside Al Khor Family Park in Al Khor, 35km from Doha. Panda Park is expected to open for the public to visit before the start of the World Cup.
A reception was held by the Ministry of Municipality represented by the Public Park Department at the facility to welcome ‘Thuraya’ and ‘Suhail’.
An international team of doctors and specialists in Giant Panda Medicine has been deployed to care for the giant pandas. As many as 2,814 bamboos are planted inside the park for feeding the two pandas. Trees from Chinese forests were brought and planted inside the facility.
The Panda Park will be one of the most important tourist and leisure destinations and is expected to attract many visitors from inside and outside Qatar.
Addressing the event, the Director of the Public Parks Department, Eng. Mohammed Ali Al Khori revealed the role of the Ministry of Municipality in building the park for the two giant pandas near Al Khor Park in line with the highest international specifications and standards.
He said that the project, built in an area of 120,000 sqm, includes a giant panda display and shelter, green areas, and service buildings. “A medical facility is also annexed to the giant panda park to meet the needs of the animals at all times.”
Al Khori pointed out that the public will have the opportunity to visit the giant panda park near the kick-off of the World Cup, after the health quarantine period for the two pandas after arriving in Qatar ends.
He noted that the Panda Park was designed similarly to the mountains of their homeland, Minshan Mountains in the Chinese province of Sichuan.
Speaking at the same event, Ambassador of China to Qatar H E Zhou Jian said: “Today is my happiest day in Qatar. We gather at this newly completed and beautiful Panda Park in Al Khor to welcome the special envoys of friendship from China, two giant pandas Jing Jing (Suhail) and Sihai (Thuraya).”
“It is also the first of its kind in the Middle East, marking a new height of China-Qatar relations and China-Arab friendship,” he added.
Ging Ging, meaning ‘shining crystal’, the male panda born on September 19, 2018, is given the Arabic name Suhail, meaning ‘star in the sky’.
SI Hi, meaning ‘four seas’, the female panda born on July 26, 2019, is given the Arabic name Thuraya, meaning ‘a group of shining stars’.
