Giant pandas to stay in Australia for 5 more years

Adelaide Zoo is the second oldest zoo in Australia, with a history of more than 130 years and more than 2,500 animals. Pandas Wang Wang (meaning Net Net) and Fu Ni (meaning Lucky Girl) arrived in November 2009 as the first pair of pandas in the southern part of the globe.

According to Bensted, ever since they settled down in Adelaide, the pair have attracted 4 million visitors.

Chinese Vice Consul General in Adelaide Pi Lijun said the pair, now already animal stars in the zoo, have played a positive role in improving people-to-people relationship between China and Australia. "Signing the agreement is undoubtedly good news to people who love those pandas," he said.

"The pandas provide the opportunity for us to continue to enhance understanding at a people-to-people level," said Simon Birmingham, minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.

He noted that behind the agreement were the research links between the two countries regardless of the challenges. "We are also committed to continuing to pursue the partnership between Australia and China through positive ventures such as this one."

To celebrate the five-year extension and encourage visitors, the zoo has slashed ticket prices to 5 Australian dollars (about $3.4) for children up to 15 years old during Nov 25-30 2019.