Macao's giant panda Shu Xiang sent back for matching

Giant panda "Shu Xiang", which has been in Macao since 2010 as present given by Chinese central government, is sent back on Sunday to the mainland for national breeding program.

Macao held a warm and sweet ceremony Sunday morning to bid farewell to "Shu Xiang", with the attendance of officials and hundreds of local residents.

Chan Hoi Fan, Secretary for Administration and Justice of Macao Special Administrative Region government said "Shu Xiang" has been deeply loved by Macao people and expressed her reluctant to bid farewell to him.

Adding that as a rare and endangered species, "Shu Xiang" deserves a better matching opportunities by participating national breeding plan in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province for the sake of the breeding and conservation of the entire species.

"Shu Xiang" has brought joy to her family, especially her kid, a resident told the reporter, adding she hoped the cute spirit grow healthily and have a happy life.

Accompanied by veterinarian and breeder, the giant panda was sent to his hometown by a chartered plane.

There is a pair of giant panda in Macao named "Kaikai" and "Xinxin," which arrived on April 30 this year to replace a former pair, after the female one "Qimiao" died of kidney failure in June last year. The male panda "Shu Xiang" was decided to return mainland for breeding. Endit