Zoo Negara does not plan to extend the period to keep Nuan Nuan, the baby of panda couple Xing Xing and Liang Liang of China, after next year.

This is due to the high cost of maintenance if the period was extended by two years as agreed between Malaysia and China, said the Malaysian Zoological Society president Zaharin Md Arif.

"According to the agreement between Malaysia and China, we need to pay a one-off cost of rental amounting to US$600,000 (RM2.4 million) for the baby panda which does not include its annual insurance premium at RM200,000.

"Nonetheless, we will discuss with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the China Wildlife Conservation Association on extending the keeping of the baby panda in November," he told reporters after the 10th birthday celebration of the panda couple in Zoo Negara today,

Zoo Negara Zoology and Veterinary director Dr Mat Naim Ramli said if the keeping period for Nuan Nuan was extended, the cost of maintenance and separation space should be taken into consideration.

"This is because the mother and baby pandas are allowed to live together when the baby is below two years and after that the baby is separated from the mother to live independently. The contract can only be extended by two more years," he added.

In conjunction with their 10th birthday, two special cakes were prepared for Xing Xing and Liang Liang in the Giant Panda Conservation Complex display area.

The Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah launched the ceremony of the two pandas.

Dr Mat Naim said Xing Xing and Liang Liang as well as their baby, Nuan Nuan are in good health.

"So far they have retained their body weight, with Xing Xing at 130 kg, Liang Liang at 109 kg and Nuan Nuan weighing 31 kg," he said.

The panda couple previously known as Fu Wa and Feng Yi, arrived in Malaysia on May 21, 2014 as a symbol of 40 years of diplomatic relations between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.

- Bernama