Panda couple Tuantuan and Yuanyuan in a July 7th Photo. [Xinhua]

Taiwan's forestry bureau, under the "council of agriculture" will convene an expert panel to discuss the application by two zoos to receive two giant pandas from the mainland on Thursday.

The panel members will inspect the two zoos before receiving the pandas to the Taipei City Zoo and the Leofoo Village Theme Park, says Lee Tao-sheng, deputy director of the forestry bureau.

Field inspections by the panel will look into whether the zoos are equipped with the facilities and skilled personnel necessary to accommodate the endangered animals, according to the Shanghai based Oriental Morning Post.

If the inspection goes well, the giant pandas, Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, will be introduced to Taiwan residents as early as September or October.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)