How Hong Kong’s Ocean Park keeps the bamboo farm-fresh for picky pandas
Special growing and transport arrangements keep park’s prize attractions satisfied, but campaigners say that doesn’t make up for the strains of captivity
Ocean Park’s giant pandas are not only among the park’s most popular attractions; they are also well pampered residents, with a sophisticated feeding regime to satisfy their fussy eating habits.
Matthias Li Sing-chung, the park’s chief executive, told the Post the theme park had put a lot of effort into taking care of its animals.
“Raising animals is very costly as they need round-the-clock care from our veterinary team,” he said. “They also eat the most expensive food.”
For example, he said, the park’s dolphins and sea lions are fed with high-quality frozen fish imported from the US.
“For pandas, their feeding cost is especially high because they are fussy eaters. You need to provide a variety of bamboo leaves and shoots of different species for them to choose every day,” he said. “The food itself is not expensive, but the process of growing and transporting the bamboo plants is complicated and costly.”