History of Panda in Chiang Mai Zoo
Project for Panda Research and Display in Thailand has started the operation since 2003. The beginning was when General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (the Deputy Prime Minister then) had been visited the People’s Republic of China in 2001. He negotiated with the president and prime minister of the People’s Republic of China to ark for the panda to represent the relationship between China and Thailand.
Later, Chinese ambassador in Thailand informed that Chinese government agreed to give a pair of panda to Thailand. On 22 October 2001, Thai government by the cabinet, has resolved to acknowledge the information and assigned the Zoological Park Organization under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King to be responsible for the coordination and preparation. Subsequently, there were meetings and operation under Project for Panda Research and Display in Thailand. The Project for Panda Research and Display in Thailand is completed with the construction work allocated a budget of 39,818,313 baht by the army engineer of Panurangsi Camp, Military Camp in Ratchaburi within 210 days.
The Zoological Park Organization preparing to arrange birthday party and counting down for the day Lin Ping leaving Thailand : Right now it is only about one year before Thailand have to return the young panda, Lin Ping, to China when the panda is 4 years old next year on 27 May 2013. Therefore, the Zoological Park Organization sees that there should be an activity to recall the success of Thailand that can look after the panda and successfully breed a panda, so Lin Ping was born and become the beloved and darling of Thai people all these time. The Zoological Park Organization has an idea to invite every sector to participate in this activity in order to show the cooperation and to honour China who is the owner of the panda. Apart from that, Lin Ping’s fans will have a chance to show their love and participate in the activities until the day that Lin Ping has to go back to China. This event also helps to boost tourism to be even more booming. The Zoological Park Organization will begin with arranging a party to celebrate Lin Ping’s 3rd birthday on 27 May 2012 and after that there will be an activity to countdown to the day that Lin Ping must leave Thailand from June 2012 onwards. There shall be various activities arranged in each month. The monthly activity calendar will show list of activities that will be arranged each month. There shall be major and minor activities and also the activities that take short and long time as appropriate. Therefore, the activities require cooperation from every sector. Chiang Mai province, Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization and Chiang Mai people shall be the host and invite every sector to participate just like every time. Examples are government sector, Local Administrative Organization, companies, shops, hotels, restaurants, schools, societies, clubs, both in Chiang Mai and other provinces. "Goodwill Ambassador ”
However, from 1984, pands are not used as the Goodwill Ambassador any longer. But China has offered to lend the giant panda to other country for 10-year period and the country need to pay standard fee of 1,000,000 US dollars per year and there is a regulation states that any panda baby born during the borrowing shall be considered as asset of People’s Republic of China: Profile of ShuangShuang and Lin Hui ; ShuangShuang (simplified Chinese font: 创创) ia the name of a male giant panda that People’s Republic of China lend to Thailand for exhibition at Chiang Mai Zoo as the Goodwill Ambassador of Thailand-China. The panda has been with a female panda named Lin Hui since October 2003. It’s Thai name is "Taywan” and it’s Lanna name is "Kham-ai”
ShuangShuang was born on 6 August 2000 at Giant Panda Research and Conservation, Wulong Conservation district, Chengdu, Sichuan of People’s Republic of China. ShuangShuang was born from a male panda named ChingChing and a female panda named Baichaew
Lin Hui (Chinese font: 林惠) is the name of a female giant panda that People’s Republic of China lend to Thailand for exhibition at Chiang Mai Zoo as the Goodwill Ambassador of Thailand-China for 10 years. The panda has been with a male panda named ShuangShuang since 12 October 2003. It’s Thai name is "Taywee” and it’s Lanna name is "Kham-eaung”
Lin Hui was born on September at Giant Panda Research and Conservation, Wulong Conservation district, Chengdu, Sichuan of People’s Republic of China. Lin Hui was born from a male panda named Pan Pan (Studbook number:308) and a female panda named Tang Tang (Studbook number:446).