Podcast
Animals gaining popularity
Updated: 2010-06-08 11:35
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A lion cub and rhinoceros calf from Kenya will be on display in the Joint Africa Pavilion at the Expo Garden.
The two animals, both stuffed and about a month old, are making their first appearance at a World Expo. Before arriving in Shanghai, the lion cub was displayed at the National Museum of Kenya and the rhino at the Kenya Wildlife Service.
"The lion is a symbol of Kenya and the rhino is an endangered species that we need to pay more attention to," said Maurice O. Otieno, director of the Kenya Pavilion. "We brought animals to encourage all visitors to the Kenya Pavilion to think about the importance of wildlife protection in Africa."
There are 59 national wildlife parks and reservations in Kenya, which occupy about 11 percent of the country's land area.
"We encourage people who have never been to Kenya and experienced life in Africa to come to our pavilion," said Julius Sunkuli, Kenya's ambassador to China.
Meanwhile, outside the Expo Garden, 10 panda cubs that have been at the Shanghai Zoo since early January continue to thrive.
The cubs are from the Bifeng Gorge Base of Sichuan's Wolong Panda Protection Research Center in Ya'an city.
They have attracted 450,000 visitors since February, according to Pan Xiuyun, director of the Shanghai Zoo.
In addition to the pandas, two Aldabra giant tortoises, presented to China by the Seychelles for the Expo 2010 Shanghai, are also proving popular among visitors.
The tortoises are among the largest in the world with a life expectancy of 250 years. The pair, in their early 30s, arrived in Shanghai in September 2009.
Questions:
1. What two animals will be display at the Joint Africa Pavilion?
2. How many wildlife parks are in Kenya?
3. How many people have visited the pandas at Shanghai Zoo?
Answers:
1. Lion cub and rhinoceros.
2. 59.
3. 450,000.
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.