Singapore welcomes a pair of giant pandas

Singapore welcomed two new residents today. 

A pair of giant pandas, named Kai Kai and Jia Jia, arrived this morning, on a flight from China. 

The pandas were off-loaded from a cargo plane that had flown in from Chengdu and have now arrived at the Singapore zoo. 

They are a gift from China - a 10 year loan - to celebrate two decades of Sino-Singapore relations in 2010. 

Singapore is the ninth country privileged to host giant pandas from China since 1994. 

According to the zoo's website, there are about 300 giants pandas in zoos and breeding centres around the world, and fewer than 1,500 in the wild. 

It's hoped the loan of Kai Kai and Jia Jia will help raise public awareness of this endangered species. 

Both pandas were named after a 6-month nationwide contest, held after the announcement in 2010 that they were coming. 

The judges, from Singapore and China, picked Kai Kai, signifying victorious for the male panda, and Jia Jia' which means beautiful and fine for the female panda. 

Together, the words Kai Jia signify the many years of strong ties between the two nations.