Indonesia, China to Swap 'Iconic' Komodos and Pandas

Jakarta Globe, April 10, 2012

Two of Indonesia's iconic komodo dragons relax at the Surabaya Zoo on
 March 7. Indonesia will exchange an unknown number of komodos for
China's  endangered panda in a symbolic move to bolster the two countries’
bilateral ties. (Antara Photo) 

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Indonesian exports to China already include natural resources like coal and palm oil. And now China is about to get its hands on an Indonesian icon: the komodo dragon.

The leaders of Indonesia and China agreed to swap komodo dragons and endangered pandas during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s visit to Beijing last month as a symbolic gesture of the two nation's improved bilateral relations, Indonesian vice presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat said.

On Tuesday, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu met with Indonesian Vice President Boediono in Jakarta. The komodo-panda swap was among the items discussed, Yopie said.

“The two animals are symbolic in the two respective countries. We hope to exchange them in a hope to further strengthen our countries’ ties,” Yopie said in Jakarta on Tuesday, after a meeting between Hui and Boediono.

 “The deputy prime minister [Hu] said he was going to soon follow-up on the exchange plan and realize it. The vice president [Boediono] welcomes the intention."

The two nations are currently preparing habitats for the animals at local zoos.

It is unknown how many komodo dragons and pandas will be involved in the exchange, or which zoo in Indonesia will house the endangered pandas.

Antara