Taiwan wants China pandas to do more than just cuddle.

15:58 25Nov2008 RTRS-Taiwan wants China pandas to do more than just cuddle

TAIPEI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A Taiwan zoo will try to mate a pair of giant pandas from China and may return any cub for tender loving care, a zoo official said on Tuesday, another twist in efforts to improve ties between the two political rivals.
Taipei Municipal Zoo will try over the next two years to mate Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, whose names said together mean "unite", to produce a cub or twins, zoo research officer Chin Shih-chien said.
"We should be breeding pandas," Chin said. "It's something we're supposed to do proactively under international agreements."
China has seen self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory rather than as a separate country since the island broke away from Mao Zedong's Communists amid civil war in 1949. Beijing has threatened to take Taiwan by force, if necessary.
But since taking office in May, China-friendly Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has resumed formal dialogue with Beijing, contributing to a thaw in relations not seen in 60 years.
China offered the two pandas as a goodwill gift in 2006 and they are expected to arrive next month.
The zoo might return the cub or twins to China for expert care, Chin said, though that decision has not been written down in black and white.
About 1,000 of the endangered animals live in the wild bamboo forests of central and western China. Taiwan will donate a native deer and goat in exchange for the pandas.
(Reporting by Ralph Jennings; Editing by Nick Macfie)
((ralph.jennings@thomsonreuters.com; +886 2 2508 0815; Reuters Messaging: ralph.jennings.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: TAIWAN PANDAS/

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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 15:58:54RTRS [nTP26515] {EN}ENDS