and then appeal its case to the country's highest administrative body, Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin said yesterday. Hau made the comment after Taipei Administrative Court rejected a petition submitted by Taipei City Zoo that morning against the Council of Agriculture's ban on the import of two giant pandas offered by China in May 2005.
Beijing donated the pair of pandas as goodwill ambassadors following a historic visit to the mainland by former Vice President Lien Chan. The male and female pandas on offer are named "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan," which together mean "unite" in Chinese.
President-elect Ma Ying-jeou said one day after his election that he supports the import of the popular but endangered animals; and, Taipei City immediately dispatched envoys Wednesday to Beijing on further study the issue with Beijing authorities and zoo officials.
"We are ready," stressed Hau during a visit organized for reporters of the zoo's new panda enclosure, which offers an unrestricted view on two large cages with unbreakable glass filled with plants and pools, and another outdoor exercise area containing trees and a waterfall.
"Before we appeal to the court, we will invite officials from Beijing's zoo to evaluate our new facility," he added.
Taipei City and some private organizations have put the money for the main building and nearby enclosure, which cost a total NT$310 million.
Taipei Zoo appealed to the Council of Agriculture for permission to import the pandas last year, but the council rejected the application on the grounds that pandas are endangered species and the zoo's preparations to properly care about them were insufficient.
Local analysts blamed political motives, saying they believe the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is barring the import of the pandas for fear they might soften Taiwan people's stance toward China.
China has had a long tradition of offering pandas as a way to soften ties with foreign governments, including the United States in 1972 and the United Kingdom in 1974.
The zoo has also sent 17 staff members to the panda-breeding base in Sichuan, China, as well as the San Diego Zoo in the United States and the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo to learn how to raise and breed giant pandas properly.
Besides, Hau noted that Taipei Zoo has planted more than six hectares of bamboo to feed the giant pandas.
"This ruling will not affect our preparation to receive the pandas," Taipei Zoo spokesperson Jason Chin said after the decision by the Taipei Administrative Court, amid concerns that Hsinchu county, Taichung city and Hualien county are also vying to provide the pandas' new home.
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