SHANGHAI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two one-horned rhinos from Nepal have been given to Shanghai as gifts, local authorities said Wednesday, with both countries looking to join hands to protect the endangered animals.
The launching ceremony of China-Nepal Rhinoceros Conservation Collaborative Research was held Wednesday in Shanghai Wild Animal Park.
The two rhinos arrived in Shanghai in August. The female, named Soaltee, is a 3-year-old and weighs around 800 kilograms, and the male, named Mitini, is a 2-year-old and weighs 600 kilograms.
The two rhinos, who need to eat 60 kilograms of food every day, mostly fresh grass and fruits, have adapted to the environment and climate in Shanghai, according to the park.
Visitors are expected to see the pair in February next year.
According to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in June, Nepal will give two pairs of one-horned rhinos to China. The first pair settled in south China's Guangdong Province in July.
"Asian one-horned rhinos were extinct in China at the start of the last century. This rare species is now living in just a few Asian countries," said Li Chunliang, deputy director of China's State Forestry and Grassland Administration.
"China has been making efforts to protect rare and endangered wildlife, sticking to a concept of sustainable development and promoting ecological civilization, therefore, many endangered animals have been effectively protected."
Leela Mani Paudyal, the Nepalese ambassador to China, said that showing the one-horned rhinos to more people could increase public awareness and concern to their plight, as well as strengthen friendship between Nepal and China.
He said he believed that by cooperating with China, the endangered species would be better preserved as both Nepal and China are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
