Less-than-real pandas appear at zoo
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A Chinese sculpture of a giant panda family has been unveiled at Adelaide Zoo, just days before the real pandas Wang Wang and Funi go on public show.The five-tonne sculpture has been donated by the China-Australia Entrepreneurs Association.
It comes from the town of Quyang, which is well-known in China for its stone carvings.
Zoos SA chief executive Chris West says the jade and marble gift is a symbol of friendship between the two countries. "The sculptures, apart from being fun and photogenic, have a symbolism," he said.
"They're very strong in terms of Chinese-Australia friendship, they're very strong at a national level but also at a local level because we've had such a blossoming of friendships with the local Chinese community - that's a wonderful thing."
Jing Zhang from Adelaide University's Confucius Institute says the sculpture has special significance for the Chinese. "White marble actually has long history of being used for sculptures and buildings as well.
"It can be traced back to years ago when dynasties, emperors and empresses they used the marble for their mansions and also even their tombs."
The real pandas will go on public display from Monday after an official welcoming function at the Zoo this weekend. Source: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
