Take a break！ Yuan Zai works for 41 days, takes one day off on the 17th

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Time to rest！ The giant panda cub "Yuan Zai" at Taipei City Zoo has been “on the job” for 41 days since making its public debut, having only taken a break on New Year’s Eve. To allow Yuan Zai to get ample rest, the Giant Panda House will be closed on the 17th and reopen on the 18th. The zoo stated that besides giving the pandas a holiday to recharge, routine cleaning and maintenance will also be carried out that day, making the environment more comfortable once it reopens.

▲Tired? Yuan Zai lazily lies on a perch. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Zoo)

Yuan Zai has melted hearts everywhere, drawing large crowds to the zoo every day. Since making its first public appearance on January 6, it has hardly had a break. Many visitors have said that whether seeing it in person or watching the panda’s life videos released by the zoo, they often notice Yuan Zai trying to run back as soon as it comes out, which is quite touching. Sometimes, it falls fast asleep on the perch within half an hour of “starting work,” looking utterly exhausted.

In response, the zoo has repeatedly emphasized that it’s natural for giant pandas to love eating and sleeping, and the public shouldn’t worry too much. After the Giant Panda House closes on the 17th, starting from March, it will be closed on the first Monday of each month. The scheduled closure dates for 2014 are: 2/17, 3/3, 4/7, 5/5, 6/9, 7/7, 8/4, 9/1, 10/6, 11/3, 12/1.

The zoo also reminds visitors that it is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, with 100 mini paper-cut panda sculptures and 2 penguins on display at the zoo’s education center. Each paper panda has a different expression and pose, looking very cute and amusing. They are exhibited in a stacked display format, with the exhibition running until April 30.

▲One hundred paper pandas take up residence at the zoo. (Photo / Reporter Lu Y...)