The two giant pandas sent by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan will start their training program today to prepare for their much-anticipated public debut on Monday, Chinese Lunar New Year's Day.

A pair of giant pandas take food in the Taipei zoo in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Dec. 23, 2008. The 4-year-old giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan offered by the Chinese mainland arrived in Taiwan by air on Dec. 23, 2008. [Xinhua]

The one-month quarantine period for Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan expired yesterday, China News Service cited Taipei City Zoo as saying.

The animals, whose names when said together mean "reunion" in Chinese, are in good health, a vet at the zoo called Zhang Zhihua told the news agency.

Veterinarians will give the pair one rabies vaccine shot and two to three canine distemper vaccine shots today or on Saturday to prepare for the huge crowds of visitors expected when the animals make their first appearance in public.

The pair, both four years old, will receive step-by-step training, including how to respond to commands to stand up, sit down, stretch their arms and sit still, Zhang said.

They will be rewarded with apples and carrots when they complete the first training stage, Zhang added.

The training will mean the animals may not need to be given anesthetic shots during future medical checks.

The number of visitors to the panda enclosure will be capped at 22,000 a day.

The pair were found to be free from parasites. The total amount of bamboo they have consumed has jumped to 30 kilograms a day from 10kg when they first arrived on the island on December 23, according to the zoo spokesman.

The zoo now offers the two Sichuan natives six types of bamboos every day.

The spokesman said the male panda Tuan Tuan was adjusting to his new environment well, but Yuan Yuan was being a little more sensitive.

The two had trampled and damaged many plants in their enclosure, which was "a sign of their good spirits," the spokesman said.

The zoo has spent NT$300 million (US$9.24 million) on the panda enclosure and a four-story panda-themed exhibition next door. It plans to spend NT$10 million a year on the animals' upkeep. The pair are being cared for by around 35 zoo staff, as well as a number of volunteers.

(Shanghai Daily January 23, 2009)