Panda pair arrive in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper looks at one of two Panda bears that arrived at Pearson International airport in Toronto March 25, 2013. The two bears are on loan to Canada from China for 10 years. [Photo/Agencies]

FedEx, which has handled transportation for Da Mao and Er Shun to Canada, packed plenty of bamboo, bamboo shoots and apples for their more than 15 hour, 12,875 km journey.

Veterinarians from the Chengdu panda base and the Chongqing and Toronto zoos traveled with them.

Li Mingxi, a panda expert from the Chengdu base, said he will stay in Canada for six months to help Da Mao adapt to the new environment.

"Initially, we had arranged for Ji Li, a female panda, to head for Canada because the Chengdu panda base had been asked to supply a female, and Chongqing Zoo to provide a male. But because Chongqing Zoo had mistaken Er Shun for a male and discovered her gender very late, we had to let Da Mao take the place of Ji Li,” Zhang said.

With younger pandas it is more difficult to determine their sex and this is confirmed through genetic testing techniques, said William Rapley, Toronto Zoo's executive director of conservation, education and wildlife.

Tang Jiagui, a panda expert at Chongqing Zoo, said of Er Shun, "We did not find she was a female until an all-round examination in late November.”

News of the pandas' 10-year stay in Canada was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he visited China last year.

"It is a tremendous honor for Canada to be entrusted with two of China's national treasures," he said.

huangzhiling@chinadaily.com.cn