Two giant pandas leave China's breeding base for Qatar

Giant panda Jing Jing plays at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

CHENGDU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East.

The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment.

Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center.

Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team.

In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries. 

Giant pandas Si Hai (L) and Jing Jing await their journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Workers transfer giant panda Jing Jing for a journey to Qatar from the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Giant panda Si Hai feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Photo by Chen Juwei/Xinhua)

Giant panda Jing Jing feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A breeder feeds giant panda Si Hai before its journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022.

Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries.

The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)