Another Visit to Taman Safari - Nancy Duma

Let's go to Taman Safari, I sent the message to my little sister.

Again? We've never been to Istana Panda.

Okay.

So, on one cloudy Saturday we made our trip. 

We stopped by a local stall right after we drove in the main street heading to Taman Safari. We bought fresh bananas for us to nibble and carrots for some animals. 

Safari Journey, Feeding and 

No Feeding Time

Luckily it didn't rain in the conservation site. We could see the elephants, the hippos, the deers, the zebras and the other inhabitants of the animal kingdom.

Some animals were excited to welcome us. What do you bring for us? Do you have fresh food? 

Yes, we have! Here you go. Guten Appetit!

Some were not interested. They were the mighty ones. And of course we didn't dare to greet them either. The official rule says it loud: don't open your car window. Don't stop. Don't get out of your car.

Istana Panda

The safari journey ended. We headed right away to Istana Panda which has been operating since November 2017.

To our surprise, visitors should park their cars and take a bus instead at the bus shelter. I didn't notice how long it was. The road was narrow and steep. It must be the reason of using bus, instead of car.

Taking panda bus is also certainly environment-friendly.  I think, a panda bus can take circa 60 persons at a time.

Finally we were there. The air was cool. The view was so beautiful. It is a buffer zone of the national park of Gunung Gede Pangrango.

Hu Chun and Cai Tao
Both "black mask-wearing bears" came from China in 2017. In 2027 they should be returned to their homeland.

Before seeing the giant pandas, visitors  gathered in a studio to watch a short documentary movie about giant pandas.

Then, we may meet the couple. Cai Tao, the male panda. Hu Chun, the female panda.

Is it Hu Chun?

Is it Cai Tao? 

Panda loves resting. It was exactly what Hu Chun and Cai Tao did. So it was disappointing not to see them playing around.

In contrary to Hu Chun and Cai Tao, we found the red pandas in Istana Panda playing around. According to KOMPAS they are called "fire fox". A red panda is a smaller panda weighed 10-15 kg that looks like a red hairy fox.

I will definitely come again to this panda castle.