Giant panda cub born in Russia for first time in Moscow Zoo

MOSCOW. Aug 30 (Interfax) - A giant panda cub was born in Moscow Zoo for the first time in Russia's history, its parents Ru Yi and Ding Ding were brought from China, where the panda is considered a national symbol, in 2019.

"The first giant panda cub in Russia's history was born in the Moscow Zoo! This is a unique and very rare event - the result of the coordinated efforts of our specialists and their Chinese colleagues," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram on Wednesday.

He noted that pandas are China's national symbol and heritage. "With the efforts of the Chinese government and relevant partners over the years, the giant panda population has reached nearly 2,600 species, of which about 1,900 live in the wild. Transferring the animals to another country is a sign of great trust," he added.

Ru Yi and Ding Ding were brought to Moscow in 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, Sobyanin said. By their arrival, the pens and enclosures on the zoo premises have been completely revamped while employees have been sent to intern for several months at a Chinese panda breeding center to learn proper care and upkeep.

"This spring, once they matured, the two pandas were introduced to each other. In order to control the process, a giant panda breeding expert came in from China," Sobyanin said.

"The birth of the cub is a landmark event for Russia and the entire global conservational community," he said.

The bamboo bear is under special protection of the state in China. Additionally, the panda is a symbol of China and plays a special role in Beijing's diplomacy. Sending these animals to various countries has already become a tradition, which is often referred to as "panda diplomacy."