Panda Frenzy Takes Over Hong Kong

Hong Kong is being captivated by a panda craze as residents engage in a competition to name the territory's first locally born twin panda cubs. The cubs turned six months old recently. The naming competition began after a ceremony at Ocean Park, attended by Hong Kong leader John Lee. The cubs, currently known as "Elder Sister" and "Little Brother," will be publicly displayed on Sunday. Visits outside regular hours cost about $190.

The male cub—marked by purple spots for identification—plays with plants and other objects, while the female climbs and rests in trees. Their mother Ying Ying is the oldest first-time panda mom, having given birth a day before her 19th birthday. Social media attention is expected to boost tourism.

Ocean Park had a deficit of $9.2 million last year, but its chairman, Paulo Pong, noted increased income over recent holidays due to the pandas. They are also China's unofficial national mascot and part of its diplomatic strategy. Pong said: "We're turning the page and we believe the pandas are definitely helping the income of the park." But Pong emphasized that raising pandas is about conservation, not profit. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)