Panda's bare necessities improved on
Giant panda Ya Er
An artist's impression of the new facility
The giant panda pavilion at Shanghai Zoo in Changning District is being expanded.
Giant panda Ya Er, born in August 2013, is the current resident.
The indoor area of the pavilion will be about 300 square meters after the expansion, and a new visitor hall will be set up with a 30 percent increase of space.
There will also be four rest rooms for the panda — a monitoring room, a treatment room and two feeding rooms.
An outdoor activity area totalling more than 600 square meters at the north of the pavilion is also on the agenda, featuring rich plants and facilities.
The goal of the expansion is to create a better environment for both the panda and visitors, the zoo operator said.
The new pavilion is scheduled to be completed by mid-April.
Ya Er, curious and active, is known for his facial expressions, animal keepers said. He arrived in Shanghai in early 2016.
