By Nurul Fitri Ramadhani
JAKARTA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- "I never thought there would be a baby panda inside," said Rina, a 32-year-old visitor from Jakarta on Tuesday, after learning that a giant panda cub had been born at Taman Safari Indonesia, an animal theme park, in Bogor, West Java Province.
She was among hundreds of visitors who came to the park to see its giant pandas, unaware that the Panda Palace of the park was officially introducing Indonesia's first-ever giant panda cub, born on Nov. 27, after years of intensive conservation efforts and international cooperation.
"I am really excited," Rina said. "A baby panda born in Indonesia makes us feel proud."
The birth marks a milestone not only for wildlife conservation in Indonesia but also for the deepening ties between China and Indonesia, with the cub widely regarded as a living symbol of friendship, trust and shared responsibility for ecological protection.
The panda cub, officially unveiled on its 40th day of life on Tuesday, was named Satrio Wiratama, a name rich in cultural and moral meaning. Indonesian Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni explained that the name reflects noble values deeply rooted in Indonesian tradition.
"This is the 40th day, and he has been given a very beautiful name, Satrio Wiratama, which means a brave and honorable knight with noble character," Antoni said.
"The birth of this panda is not only the birth of an important animal, but also a symbol of the strong diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and China," he added.
The road to the panda's birth was long and challenging. According to Antoni, scientists made four attempts at natural mating before turning to assisted reproductive technology.
"There were four natural mating attempts, and then we conducted artificial insemination. Finally, on Nov. 27, Rio was born," he said, using the cub's nickname.
"The birth of the giant panda cub is a symbol of the deep friendship between China and Indonesia. It carries our shared aspirations for peace, amity and cooperation, and stands as a successful example of bilateral cooperation," said Wang Lutong, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia.
Jansen Manansang, founder of Taman Safari Indonesia, emphasized the broader significance of the panda program.
"Pandas are symbols of harmony, peace and friendship," he said. "This is a symbol of conservation success in Indonesia."
He noted that panda cooperation goes beyond animal care. "It deepens economic cooperation, builds biodiversity protection networks, encourages cross-cultural integration, strengthens ecological research and technology and builds trust across cultures," he said. ■
