To be a matchmaker is no easy task, but to play Cupid for two giant pandas has proved to be harder.

Matchmaking became Chinese giant panda experts' most challenging mission in 2005 after the Chinese mainland decided last May to donate a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan as gifts which embody the aspiration for peace, unity and fraternity of Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

The experts had to select among the country's young giant pandas a pair which not only loves each other but also has to be perfectly shaped and physiologically excellent.

Only those who are fat, with round heads and non-protruding mouths, are qualified in appearance. Inbreeding, of course, means a veto in the selection.

More importantly, they should be highly fertile, as they are expected to raise offspring on the country's largest island. Previously, panda, one of the world's most precious species, has never set foot there.

Cao Qingyao, spokesman for the State Forestry Administration (SFA), announced on Friday that the country's experts had picked out a perfect match of giant pandas for the Taiwan compatriots after nearly five months of selection.

The giant panda couple, namely No. 19 (male) and No. 16 (female), both one year old, were selected from 23 candidates raised in the Wolong China Giant Panda Research Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

They are known at Wolong as "Xiaoguaiguai" which means "little darling" and "Huangmao Yatou" which translates literally into "chit of a girl."

"It's a tough job to select such a couple, as giant pandas seldom fall in love at first sight," said Zhang Hemin, director of the center.

The selection started last August, about three months after Chen Yunlin, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced the donation plan during then Kuomintang party chief Lien Chan's mainland visit last spring.

Following physical, genetic and psychological tests of the 23 candidates, experts in October presented a list of 11 giant pandas, two of which would be made a match.

The final decision was made after two months of cohabitation of the 11 giant pandas.

"They are all individually excellent, but did not necessarily match each other. We made more than 10 matching trials, and found No. 19 and No. 16 showed the strongest favor toward each other," said Zhang.

The expert said that some pandas were indifferent to their partners, and some would even fight against each other when they were put together.

Giant panda feeders at Wolong said that Huangmao Yatou and Xiaoguaiguai seemed to care for each other like sister and brother.

The male panda was born on Sept. 1, 2004, by Hua Mei, a giant panda that was born in the United States and returned to China in February that year.

He is a day younger than his lover, who is believed by experts to have inherited her mother's wild nature and talent for maternity.

Her mother Lei Lei, a wild giant panda rescued by zoologists at the Wolong center after an injury, is famed at Wolong for her prolific reproduction and excellent motherhood.

The daughter was once a tree climbing champion among young giant pandas at Wolong and she is also a well-known acrobat for her skill in walking on balance-beams, like logs, said Zhang.

The mainland also launched a name soliciting campaign Friday, welcoming all Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, overseas Chinese and all friendly personages to mull names for the two cuddly bears.

The campaign is expected to last to Jan. 20.

However, when the giant panda couple will go to Taiwan remains a question as the Taiwan authorities are still playing the admission of the giant pandas as a political card.

According to Taiwan media reports, the authorities on the island said on Thursday that the matter is still under review and the giant pandas cannot enter Taiwan without permission.

Giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China. It is estimated that 1,590 giant pandas live wild in China. Those in captivity totaled 183 in the Chinese mainland by the end of 2005.

Source: Xinhua