Journalists from home and abroad have gathered in droves in Sichuan Province's Wolong Nature Reserve to cover preparations for the important shipment of two giant pandas to the United States on December 6.

Journalists from China Central Television, and US-based organizations the Discovery television channel, the National Broadcasting Corporation and the Washington Post have all descended on the nature reserve. More are on their way, said Yuan Shijun, an official from the Foreign Liaisons Section of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Forestry.

Three-year-old Tian Tian, a male, and two-year-old Mei Xiang, a female, will be staying in the United States for 10 years, during which time they will be studied by American biologists.

To prepare for the pandas' departure, Lucy Spelman, director of the Smithsonian National Park, together with four other experts from the park, arrived in Wolong on Friday, bringing with them specially prepared biscuits for the pandas. The pandas were fed the biscuits Sunday in an effort to introduce them to the American lifestyle that awaits, Zhang said.

According to American experts, the Smithsonian National Park has an abundant supply of bamboo, the staple food for pandas.

Since early last month, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang have been separated from other pandas in the center as part of a 30-day quarantine. As pandas prefer to live alone, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang now live in separated houses, although a marriage will be arranged for them when they are old enough, said Wang Pengyan, the center's chief engineer.

Both pandas have maintained good appetites throughout the ordeal, with each eating four meals a day, he said.

To prepare for the pandas' arrival, the Smithsonian National Park has given its panda house a major facelift and equipped it with four keepers.

Tian Tian and Mei Xiang will be the second pair of pandas to reside at the park.

In 1972, the Chinese Government sent pandas Xing Xing and Ling Ling to live in the park, where they became minor celebrities. Ling Ling died of heart disease in 1992 and Xing Xing died of cancer seven years later.

The State Council decided last April to grant US requests for more pandas by sending Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. Scientists in the US will try to help the pair produce cubs, which will be sent back to China.The pair will occupy the same house Xing Xing and Ling Ling called home.

(China Daily 12/05/2000)