The Royal Canadian Mint is slated to unveil a new silver collector coin celebrating the giant panda and its symbolism of friendship at the Calgary Zoo’s new “Panda Passage” exhibit on June 2.
On that day only, visitors will be able to buy the coin on-site along with a special Panda Passage seal and hand-painted Chinese calligraphy. The state-of-the-art $14-million exhibit, which opened in May and will run until Sept. 3, includes a habitat with four giant pandas – Er Shun, Da Mao and cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue – on a 10-year breeding loan agreement from China. It’s the first time giant pandas have been part of a Calgary Zoo exhibit since 1988. The habitat also serves as a residence to the zoo’s Bactrian camels and two male Komodo dragons.