CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) joined Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS); China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA); and China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda to witness the sending-off of “Kai Kai” and “Jia Jia”, known as “Wu Jie” and “Hu Bao” in China, at Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base. The farewell ceremony was graced by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development, Mr Lee Yi Shyan; Mr Jia Jiansheng, Deputy Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation and Natural Reserve Management, State Forestry Administration, People’s Republic of China; and Mr Lim Ming Yan, Chief Operating Officer, CapitaLand Limited. CapitaLand is the Presenting Sponsor and Conservation Donor of the 10-year Giant Panda Collaborative Programme between WRS and CWCA.
The pair of giant pandas – male panda Kai Kai and his female companion Jia Jia – will arrive in Singapore on 6 September 2012, and begin the 10-year Programme in the country. CapitaLand’s sponsorship will support giant panda conservation efforts to build infrastructure including the pandas’ habitat; extend care of pandas and related facilities for collaborative research and conservation; promote the breeding of this extremely endangered animal by replicating the conditions suitable to naturally or artificially assisting the reproduction of giant pandas in Singapore; and panda husbandry and care in captivity.
CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), CapitaLand’s philanthropic arm, is also supportive of the Programme. CHF will work in partnership with WRS to develop educational programmes and materials to engage underprivileged children and showcase the importance of wildlife conservation, so that they too, can contribute towards biodiversity.
Mr Lim Ming Yan led two children from CapitaLand Muchuan Green Hope School, Sichuan in presenting a scroll painting of a happy giant panda family in a bamboo forest, adorned with the two children’s handprints, to Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Mr Lee Yi Shyan. There are about 8,000 children in the 23 CapitaLand Hope Schools in China. The scroll painting is symbolic of the children’s well wishes for Kai Kai and Jia Jia to lead a healthy, happy life during their 10-year stay in Singapore. The baby pandas in the painting represent hopes for panda offspring by Kai Kai and Jia Jia, while the bamboo forest embodies the lasting, evergreen nature of bilaterial ties between Singapore and China.
Mr Lim Ming Yan said: “CapitaLand is committed to contributing positively towards the communities we operate in. China is one of CapitaLand’s core markets and our conservation donation is a testament of CapitaLand’s long-term commitment in China. The giant pandas represent the close ties Singapore shares with China. CapitaLand is happy to be the Presenting Sponsor and Conservation Donor of the Giant Panda Collaborative Programme to enhance awareness for the conservation of these gentle creatures. Just as how we strive to build a lasting company, we embrace the importance of conserving wildlife as it belongs to future generations as well as our own.”
Ms Jennie Chua, Director, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, said: “CapitaLand Hope Foundation is pleased to give its support to the Giant Panda Collaborative Programme. We welcome Kai Kai and Jia Jia to Singapore, and are excited to embark on the 10-year Programme. It is a good platform for cultural exchange and understanding between Singapore and China, and for younger Singaporeans to be educated about caring for Mother Earth by learning to embrace biodiversity.”
Originally named Wu Jie and Hu Bao, the pair of giant pandas have been renamed Kai Kai and Jia Jia for their stay in Singapore. The names were selected after a six-month nationwide naming contest from nearly 1,000 entries submitted by the public in 2010. A distinguished seven-person judging panel comprising Mr Chen Jiang, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Singapore; Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms Aw Kah Peng, Former Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board; Professor Wang Gungwu, Chairman, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore; Mr Liew Mun Leong, President and CEO, CapitaLand Group; Ms Jennie Chua, Director, CapitaLand Hope Foundation; and Ms Claire Chiang, Chairman, Wildlife Reserves Singapore chose the new names for the two giant pandas.
CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the multi-local company's core businesses in real estate, hospitality and real estate financial services are focused in growth cities in Asia Pacific and Europe. The company's real estate and hospitality portfolio, which includes homes, offices, shopping malls, serviced residences and mixed developments, spans more than 110 cities in over 20 countries.
CapitaLand also leverages on its significant asset base, real estate domain knowledge, financial skills and extensive market network to develop real estate financial products and services in Singapore and the region.
The listed entities of the CapitaLand Group include Australand, CapitaMalls Asia, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaRetail China Trust, CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust and Quill Capita Trust.
CapitaLand Hope Foundation, CapitaLand’s philanthropic arm, was established in 2005 to further CapitaLand’s corporate social responsibility commitment to build a better future for underprivileged children. Its focus is to support programmes for the shelter, education and healthcare needs of underprivileged children in Singapore and overseas.
Every year, CapitaLand allocates up to 0.5% of its net profit to the Foundation. Please visit www.capitalandhopefoundation.com for more information about CapitaLand Hope Foundation.
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CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) joined Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS); China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA); and China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda to witness the sending-off of “Kai Kai” and “Jia Jia”, known as “Wu Jie” and “Hu Bao” in China, at Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base. The farewell ceremony was graced by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development, Mr Lee Yi Shyan; Mr Jia Jiansheng, Deputy Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation and Natural Reserve Management, State Forestry Administration, People’s Republic of China; and Mr Lim Ming Yan, Chief Operating Officer, CapitaLand Limited. CapitaLand is the Presenting Sponsor and Conservation Donor of the 10-year Giant Panda Collaborative Programme between WRS and CWCA.
