Twin pandas Mei Lun and Mei Huan were at the Atlanta Zoo in Atlanta, Georgia, May 22, 2015. (Xinhua file photo)
(ECNS) — America-born pandas Mei Lun and Mei Huan have returned to China from the U.S. and are adapting to the new lifestyle.
The twin pandas, both three-and-half years old, arrived at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan province on Nov. 5 for a one month quarantine period.
They favor cookies and understand the English words "come here," but are deaf to the Sichuan dialect.
Mei Lun has been busy in her new home, but Mei Huan mostly hides and eats.
"They are afraid of strangers, so climbing and making sheep sounds are their stress reaction," said Luo Yunhong, the keeper of the pandas. "In this case we need to leave and watch outside."
Luo said the two pandas prefer cookies brought from the U.S. They often eat bamboo as a main course and cookies as dessert.
Luo has tried to change their eating habits by reducing their cookies day by day, but Mei Lun won't eat unless cookies are involved.
Lou said the twins only know their names in the Sichuan dialect and are quite indifferent to other words, unless they are in English.
The twin pandas, born on July 15, 2013 at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia, were the first surviving U.S.-born pair of giant panda twins.
