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France's first panda cub makes its public debut | France's first panda cub makes its public debut |
(35 minutes later) | |
The first panda cub to be born in France has made its public debut five months after its birth. | The first panda cub to be born in France has made its public debut five months after its birth. |
Yuan Meng, which means "making a dream come true" in Chinese, is the star attraction at Beauval zoo in central France. | Yuan Meng, which means "making a dream come true" in Chinese, is the star attraction at Beauval zoo in central France. |
Visitors travelled from all over the country to catch a first glimpse of the cub on Saturday. | Visitors travelled from all over the country to catch a first glimpse of the cub on Saturday. |
Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president, named him in December. | Brigitte Macron, the wife of the French president, named him in December. |
The zoo's veterinarian said the cub had been visiting his new enclosure for a 10-day familiarisation process, but this was the first time he had been shown to the public. | The zoo's veterinarian said the cub had been visiting his new enclosure for a 10-day familiarisation process, but this was the first time he had been shown to the public. |
One visitor from the Paris region told the AFP news agency: "We felt we took part in a historic moment. We got up at 3:00 in the morning. My son absolutely wanted to see the cub." | One visitor from the Paris region told the AFP news agency: "We felt we took part in a historic moment. We got up at 3:00 in the morning. My son absolutely wanted to see the cub." |
Reproduction between pandas is notoriously difficult as the female pandas are only fertile for a couple of days per year. | Reproduction between pandas is notoriously difficult as the female pandas are only fertile for a couple of days per year. |
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Two pandas arrived at Beauval zoo in 2012, on loan from China for a reproduction programme. Yuan Ming was born via artificial insemination. | Two pandas arrived at Beauval zoo in 2012, on loan from China for a reproduction programme. Yuan Ming was born via artificial insemination. |
Pandas were declared an endangered animal in the 1980s, however their numbers have grown as a result of conservation efforts. | Pandas were declared an endangered animal in the 1980s, however their numbers have grown as a result of conservation efforts. |
China has dispatched pandas to around a dozen countries, with the animal being perceived as a sign of close diplomatic relations. | China has dispatched pandas to around a dozen countries, with the animal being perceived as a sign of close diplomatic relations. |
Brigitte Macron, the panda's "godmother", said at the naming ceremony that the cub was a symbol of the historic ties between France and China. | Brigitte Macron, the panda's "godmother", said at the naming ceremony that the cub was a symbol of the historic ties between France and China. |
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