Atlanta Zoo’s twin panda cubs, formerly known as Cub A and Cub B, receive their names during their 100-day naming celebration last December 12, 2016. Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Raymond B. King joyfully announced the cubs’ names to the public. The twins were named as Ya Lun and Xi Lun which means “Lun Lun’s elegant and happy daughters.” The panda twins are the sixth and seventh offspring of their mum Lun Lun and dad Yang Yang.
The twin cubs’ names were chosen by public vote out of the seven pairs of names provided by the zoo’s panda conservation partners. The 100-day naming ceremony is a Chinese tradition that the zoo followed for all of Lun Lun and Yang Yang’s offpsrings. Naming babies after sustaining a delicate stage during infancy is viewed as a harbinger of a fruitful future. The twins, who are yet figuring out how to walk, weren’t present during the naming festival. They are scheduled to make their public zoo debut on January 2017.
Vocabulary:
conservation – the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources
harbinger – something that comes before and that shows what will follow in future
elegant – graceful and stylish
thriving – succeeding
debut – a first appearance, launch or public introduction
True or False:
- The twin panda cubs were formerly known as Cub V and Cub Z.
- The twin panda cubs are the first and second offspring of mom Lun Lun and dad Yang Yang.
- The naming festival is not Japanese tradition.
- The Atlanta Zoo caretaker announced the cubs’ names.
- The scheduled debut of the panda cubs will be on January 2017.
Defend your argument:
- Do you think it is right to keep wild animals in captivity all there life?
- Why do you think it is necessary to conserve wildlife?
- Discuss some ways in preserving the life of endangered species.
Express your opinion:
- Animals should not be kept in zoos.
- Animals in zoo are happy.
- Zoos are good because they rescue and protect the animals.