There are about 3 million people from as many as 121 different countries living in Qatar – and there are two pandas from China, too.

Yes, those lovely, cute black and white bears that inhabit the cooler climes, now reside in this sweltering hot Gulf state. They are the first pandas to live in the Middle East.

Not outdoors, of course, but in a state-of-the-art abode in the middle of the desert called Panda House.

Obscene, I thought.

The country’s got too much money, I judged.

It’s not right to keep animals in faux captivity environments, I bemoaned.

But then I visited Panda House, about 50km north of Doha, near Al Khor. In short, the time, money, and careful thought that has gone into Panda House is just another of those weird and wonderful things about Qatar.

Conservation message

These judgemental sentiments have been tempered now that I have a better understanding of the presence of the pandas in Qatar.

Their being in the Middle East, in an environment so far from home, is strangely and conversely entrenching the conservation message – that of creating awareness about the need to preserve, protect and restore our natural environment and its wildlife.

It is thanks to such initiatives across that globe that the panda has moved from the endangered species list to that of “vulnerable”.

If you think about it, the panda bear is the ultimate ambassador for conservation.

Panda appeal

The moment I spied my first in-the-flesh panda, I caught my breath and mimicked an internal “wow”.

Actually, I could have loudly exclaimed my excitement because at 10am on this sweltering hot day in August, the H and I were the only visitors. As shared in my last blog post about Qatar’s weather, everyone runs away in summer.

Mind you, there were at least 10 security personnel and five cleaners on site, not to mention two lovely pandas, so perhaps it was best that I erred on the side of decorum.

But I digress.

Getting back to that panda appeal.

There’s something about a panda, isn’t there, that makes you want to engage with them?

You just want to ‘do-a-Bev’ and talk to the animals.

They’re just so endearing with playful antics, distinctive black and white markings and cuddly teddy bear allure. I think this predisposes us to talk (to them and) about them, the wonders of nature, and hopefully all that needs to be done to conserve what we have.

The panda success story serves as an ideal conservation education starting point.

But let’s face it. Pandas are good for tourism (even if visitor numbers are low right now) and international relations too.

These two pandas arrived in Qatar in October 2022, a month before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as a gift from the Chinese government. They are set to stay for 15 years.  

Panda House

Plans for Panda House – and a very smart bespoke home it is – began long before the football extravaganza, especially since pandas only thrive in very specific environments with a very distinct diet. Qatar has neither mountains nor bamboo.

According to an article by blooloop.com/animals/ , this meant ensuring the giant pandas were housed in an environment that resembled that of their natural habitat in Sichuan province in the mountains in China.

The result: a triple storey, light and airy edifice with a viewing gallery at each level, and air-conditioning to mimic the humidity and temperature of the Chinese seasons. There’s also real soil, water and trees for climbing.

The visuals tell a better story of the state-of-the-art Panda House, which also comes with its own medical facility, and special his-and-her bedrooms. (I told you, no expense is ever spared in Qatar. When they do something, they do it properly. Of course, it helps when you’re one of the wealthiest country in the world).

 

Meet the Qatar pandas

While we can meet the pandas, the pandas are unable to meet each other.

Ah, those poor, cuddly bears live apart.

They have to wait till they are mature enough and it is mating season before he can pop to her place, and she to his. (More on the facts of life in the fast facts section below.)

Please meet Suhail, the male panda, meaning “star in the sky”, and Thuraya, meaning a “group of shining stars”, his slightly younger female friend.

He’s five and she’s four. And, as you have already assessed, they’re gorgeous.

The pandas receive a regular supply of bamboo, plus an occasional carrot or apple, from the 3000 bamboo plants grown in an adjacent nursery. This is delivered in bundles at regular intervals throughout the day. An internal body clock seems to let the pandas know when to head for their individual bedrooms, at which point the door is opened and then temporarily closed. This allows an employee to safely deliver a fresh batch of bamboo. He also trots around with a giant pooper scooper.

We ambled up and down the walkway, endeavouring to learn a little more about the pandas from the security personnel but without too much success. There’s always a language barrier in Qatar. While English is the language of choice after Arabic, many of those working in the service industry struggle to converse proficiently in English. But there again, my Hindi, Swahili and Nepali, is non-existent.

While the educational room was closed for maintenance, fortunately there are a couple of videos stands and information signage available in English, Arabic and Chinese.

No expense has been spared at Panda House, which also comes with a number of extras – a cafe, a game’s area and of course, the obligatory prayer rooms. The interior design and exterior decor is reflective of its occupants.

Other attractions

It is very likely we will return to Panda House, since we were unable to enjoy the other outdoor attractions because of the heat.

There are lovely developing gardens with mini panda sculptures all around. There’s a forest trail with larger-than-life panda paw prints and a number of eateries within the park making it an ideal destination for families.

It’s actually an add-on to the more established Al Khor park and is home to a birdcage, a museum, games area and an artificial lake. Apparently, there are even squirrels here too, but I will only know for sure when we visit in winter.

Panda fast facts

• Pandas weigh between 75kg and 135kg

• Pandas can move at 32km an hour (I watched Suhail bound playfully after the birds)

• Bamboo accounts for 99% of their diets

• They eat between 10 and 18kg a day

• The temperature for pandas should never be above 25 degrees

• Breeding takes place in early spring, temperatures in Qatar need to mirror the seasons in China for the female panda to come into oestrus

• Pandas are not the most sexually active animals

• In captivity, 80% of pandas have been born from artificial insemination

• To ensure pandas are candidates for release, they have to be bred naturally

• Male pandas reach sexual maturity at six years old, and female at five years old (which means our pair will soon be ready for breeding)
• There are 1864 pandas in the world today, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts

Getting there

Panda House is easily accessible by car, about 40 minutes away on the Shamal Road. This is a straight road and it is well signposted.

You can get your ticket online in advance (QAR50 for adults and QAR25 for children which you can multiply by 5 for the prices in Rands) or buy at the booth upon entering.

The facilities are open from 9am to 5pm daily.

Enjoy!