Name the Panda

Participants in the upcoming postcard vote also stand a chance of winning at least Bt1million in cash.

"The winner from the lucky draw may get a car too," Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO) director Sopon Damnui revealed yesterday.

 Born last Wednesday at Chiang Mai Zoo, the female cub has become an instant media superstar and a hit with people all around the country.

So far, this baby has been nameless, but not for much longer.

Choose and win

Sopon said the public will first be asked to come up with names. The ZPO board will then choose four of the best, which will be put to a public vote.

"Those who submit one of the chosen names have a chance of winning Bt100,000 plus a free trip for their family to visit pandas in China."

Giant pandas Chuang Chuang and Linhui have been on loan to Thailand from China since 2003.

 Linhui has been nursing her offspring for over a week now. The baby has increased in weight from 200 to 290 grams and the skin around its ears and eyes is beginning to blacken.

Under the agreement between the two countries, the baby has to be returned to China within two years.

"We will try to persuade China to let the panda family to stay here longer," said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who visited zoo to see the new arrival yesterday. "We hope China will agree to set up a permanent panda-research centre in Thailand," Suwit added.