Zookeepers hold the panda twins "Bao Di" (L) and "Bao Mei" at the Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette, Belgium, Nov. 14, 2019. The giant panda twins who were given birth in August by giant panda Hao Hao, were given official names on their 100-day celebration on Thursday. The male cub was named as "Bao Di" and the female cub was named as "Bao Mei". Hao Hao was loaned by the Chinese government to Belgium in 2014. The pair of giant panda cubs were the second and third cubs born in the Pairi Daiza zoo, following the June 2016 birth of Tian Bao, the first giant panda ever born in the European country. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
The two giant pandas born on Aug. 8, 2019 in the Belgian zoo of Pairi Daiza were given official names on Thursday during a ceremony marking their 100-day celebration.
The twins have been named Bao Di and Bao Mei, translated as "Little brother of Tian Bao" and "Little Sister of Tian Bao".
Members of the general public were able to contribute by going online and vote on the proposals made by Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming and the whole panda team at Pairi Daiza, dubbed Europe's best zoo.
After more than 73,000 people went online to vote, the Chinese ambassador was thrilled to announce that the dual names of Bao Di and Bao Mei won the contest.
"As Chinese ambassador to Belgium, I hope these giant pandas could help the Belgian people better understand China, and bond us in our friendship for the future," said Cao at the ceremony.
If the panda babies develop well, Tim Bouts, zoological director at Pairi Daiza, and Guo Li, the Chinese expert sent to Belgium after the births of the two pandas, will authorize Bao Di and Bao Mei to leave their nursery and join their mother out where the public can see them.
This could be possible as early as Dec. 14, when the park reopens its doors, according to a statement released Thursday by Pairi Daiza.
Belgium has really taken these pandas on board, and a media frenzy has surrounded Xing Hui and Hao Hao since their arrival in Belgium.
Hailed as "ambassadors" of China-Belgium friendship, Hao Hao and Xing Hui soon became one of the main attractions at Pairi Daiza.
With the births of these two babies, the zoo is now home to five giant pandas. Hao Hao and her companion Xing Hui arrived at the zoo in February 2014 aboard a chartered DHL plane. They are loaned from China for 15 years.
On June 2, 2016, a male panda was born and received the name of Tian Bao - "Treasure of Heaven". With the births of Bao Di and Bao Mei, Pairi Daiza becomes the first European zoo to host five pandas.
