Patrick Herminie was sworn in as the sixth president of the Republic of Seychelles on Sunday in the capital city of Victoria.
During his inauguration, Herminie vowed to unite the nation, improve the quality of life for citizens through pragmatic policies, and pursue a path of sustainable development for the island nation.
A seasoned public servant and former medical doctor, the 62-year-old Herminie won the presidency in the second round of voting, as announced by the Electoral Commission of Seychelles on October 12. Representing the United Seychelles Party, Herminie previously served as speaker of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2016.
Patrick Herminie sworn in as Seychelles’ new president
Enduring friendships between giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province has been captured in recently released footage, showcasing the success of the base's science-backed animal welfare practices.
Captured at the base's Moonlight Delivery House, Star Giant Panda Nursery House and No. 1 Giant Panda Villa, the video clips feature various pairs of same-age pandas joyfully playing and wrestling together.
The practice of housing same-age pandas together is a form of social enrichment, designed to promote interaction and behavioral diversity among individuals.
Panda enrichment refers to scientific conservation methods employed in captivity to enhance the welfare of these national treasures, meet their physiological and psychological needs, and encourage them to display more natural behaviors.
The Chengdu base is a world-renowned facility for ex-situ conservation, scientific research and breeding, public education, and eco-tourism. It is globally recognized for protecting and breeding endangered Chinese wildlife species such as giant pandas and red pandas.
Footage captures panda friendships at Chengdu base
