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RI, China to resume talks on panda-Komodo exchange
Representatives from Indonesia and China will resume delayed discussions on plans to exchange Komodo dragons with panda bears as part of a diplomatic program between the two countries
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epresentatives from Indonesia and China will resume delayed discussions on plans to exchange Komodo dragons with panda bears as part of a diplomatic program between the two countries.
The head of the sociocultural and information section at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Santo Darmosumarto, said the deal to exchange a pair of Komodo dragons from Indonesia with panda bears from China had been initiated by China through their representatives in Jakarta.
'During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indonesia in 2013, the deal was already agreed, but the plan was delayed,' Santo said on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.
He added the delays were because both sides had not reached an agreement on Indonesia paying the US$300,000 set by the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) for the pandas.
'China has the right to lease panda bears to all countries seen as strategic. But the countries must pay a fee first so that it can be transferred to the main panda reservation and conservation center in Chengdu,' he added.
Taman Safari, a wildlife park located in Bogor, West Java, is preparing the facilities and space needed to house the pandas when they arrive. A building dedicated to the panda section will also be built to allow the public to see them.
Seven hectares of land have been prepared by Taman Safari for the pandas, and will be filled with around 8,000 bamboo trees imported directly from China. The bamboo trees have been growing since 2012.
The relevant human resources, which include veterinarians, keepers, curators and others, have all undergone training in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan and China. The park is said to be ready to accept the pandas in June 2015. (dyl)(++++)
