Deer, goats from Taiwan meet mainland visitors

A pair of spotted deers and a pair of goats, given by Taiwan as gifts to the mainland last month, made their first formal public appearance Saturday, at Liugong Island National Forest Park, in Weihai City, Shandong Province.

Wang Fachang, a tourist from Dongying City, Shandong, said that after hearing about the animals on the news, he decided to visit the park and welcome the animals himself.

The pair of deer and goats will play a unique role in teaching mainlanders more about Taiwan, said Wang Peiting, Party chief of the city. He disclosed that Liugong Island will be built into an animal research and exchange base for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as a base for the cross-strait exchanges for young people.

The deer, Fan Xing and Dian Dian, and the goats, Xiyangyang and Leyangyang, have gotten accustomed to their new homes after a month-long quarantine and a dozen days of outdoor living, said Yuan Xue'en, director of the Administrative Committee of the national park.

The four animals arrived at their new home on April 16, after a two hour-plus flight from Taipei.

Long before their arrival, the park made many preparations, such as creating a special feed with mulberry and papermulberry, which the hoofed foursome like.

The park also build a playground similar to the animals' original dwelling, which includes a floor heating system. Park officials say the animals will be monitored round-the-clock for their heath.

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