2nd Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin Born in Prague Zoo in Less Than 2 Years

A keeper carries a newborn baby Chinese pangolin to be weighed at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A keeper carries a newborn baby Chinese pangolin to be weighed at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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2nd Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin Born in Prague Zoo in Less Than 2 Years

A keeper carries a newborn baby Chinese pangolin to be weighed at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
A keeper carries a newborn baby Chinese pangolin to be weighed at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

A second Chinese pangolin was born in the Prague zoo in less than two years and is doing well, defying the odds and surprising park officials.
The female of the critically endangered mammal was born July 1, the second Chinese pangolin born in captivity in Europe following her sister, Cone, in February last year.
She weighed just 141 grams (4.97 ounces) but was putting on about 10 grams (0.3 ounces) daily and could reach 250 grams (8.8 ounces) this week, the zoo said. Adults can reach up to 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds).
When the park in 2022 received Guo Bao, a male, and Run Hou Tang, a female, from the Taipei zoo, the leading breeder of the mammals, the major goal was just to keep them alive and in good health, zoo director Miroslav Bobek said Wednesday.
“We certainly hoped that we’ll have a baby born one day in the future but absolutely nobody expected that we’ll have two in a year and a half,” The Associated Press quoted Bobek as saying.
The Chinese pangolin is native to southern China and Southeast Asia. It's one of the four pangolin species in Asia, with the others found in Africa. They are hunted heavily for their scales and meat.
The pangolins are difficult to breed in captivity because they require a special feed that includes drone larvae and need a particular humidity and temperature in their enclosure.
Prague became only the second European zoo to keep the species.
The pangolins arrived after Prague decided to revoke a sister-city agreement with Beijing and signed a similar deal in 2020 with the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. The deal caused tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory. The agreement included cooperation between the Taipei and Prague zoos.



Saudi Arabia Submits Expo 2030 Riyadh Registration Dossier to BIE

The dossier was presented to BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily. (SPA)
The dossier was presented to BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Submits Expo 2030 Riyadh Registration Dossier to BIE

The dossier was presented to BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily. (SPA)
The dossier was presented to BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia submitted its official registration dossier for World Expo 2030 Riyadh to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), reaffirming its commitment and readiness to organize this global event.

The dossier was presented to BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes by Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.

Submitting the official bid is one of the most crucial stages in the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030. It marks the beginning of the practical implementation of plans and the actual start of preparations for the global event, reflecting the Kingdom's seriousness in fulfilling its international obligations and its high organizational capabilities and large potential to host major global events.

This step follows the Kingdom's election as World Expo 2030 host country during the 173rd BIE general assembly in November 2023.

The submitted dossier includes a comprehensive plan covering all organizational, procedural, and operational aspects, including the operational timeline; legislative, regulatory, and financial procedures; the master plan for the exhibition site; international participation conditions; and plans to invest in the Expo’s legacy.

The registration file will undergo a review by the BIE and its member countries in preparation for its official approval by the general assembly. Once approved, the Kingdom will begin practical preparations and send official invitations for international participation through diplomatic channels.

Kerkentzes praised the quality of the submitted file, noting that it presents a comprehensive and clear vision for organizing Expo 2030 in Riyadh. He highlighted the Kingdom’s keenness and extensive efforts in preparing and cooperating with the bureau to ensure the success of the global event.