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In a delightful development for wildlife conservation, Indonesia’s first giant panda cub is thriving and making quite a racket, according to reports from the conservation park where he was born. The young panda, who has been named Satrio Wiratama, affectionately known as Rio, was welcomed into the world on November 27 at the Indonesian Safari Park in Cisarua, located in West Java province.
Recently, the park shared heartwarming images and videos of the newborn. These show Rio nestled in an incubator, energetically squirming and squealing, while receiving tender care from his 15-year-old mother, Hu Chun. The cub’s robust health and lively demeanor are promising signs for his future.
The choice of the name Satrio Wiratama carries significant meaning. It reflects the aspirations, resilience, and joint efforts of Indonesia and China in their mission to safeguard endangered species, the park highlighted in a statement.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto officially unveiled the baby panda’s name during a meeting with Wang Huning, a prominent Chinese political advisor and ideologist. In this meeting, President Subianto also shared a photo of the adorable cub, symbolizing the ongoing collaboration between the two nations in conservation efforts.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the baby panda’s name Thursday and showed his photo when he met Wang Huning, a top Chinese political adviser and leading ideologist.
Rio is stable and showing healthy early signs such as strong vocalization, effective nursing and steady weight gain while being monitored constantly. He is expected to develop better temperature control, fur growth, open his eyes and move more in the next several weeks.
The conservation park said it was prioritizing the health and welfare of the mother and baby and he would not yet be accessible to the public.
The adult pandas, Cai Tao and Hu Chun, arrived in Indonesia in 2017 on a 10-year conservation partnership with China. They live in an enclosure built for them at the park about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Jakarta.
Pandas are widely considered as China’s unofficial mascot and its loans of the animals to overseas zoos have long been seen as a tool of Beijing’s soft-power diplomacy, also known as “panda diplomacy.”
Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and births are particularly welcomed. There are less than 1,900 giant pandas in their only wild habitats in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu.

