IN PHOTOS: Suhail, Thuraya mark four years in Qatar: Inside their daily routine at Panda House
<p>Doha, Qatar: For Suhail and Thuraya, a typical morning at Al Khor’s Panda House involves bamboo, a little climbing and, eventually, a long nap. <br /> For the people caring for them, it begins with a detailed checklist.</p> <p>As October 19, 2026 marks four years since the giant pandas arrived in Qatar, their trainer and an agricultural researcher have offered <em>The Peninsula</em> a closer…
Four years after their arrival in Qatar, Suhail and Thuraya, the giant pandas housed at Panda House in Al Khor, maintain a daily routine that balances activity and rest. Each day begins with a thorough check of their outdoor enclosure, with keepers inspecting for hazards and cleaning the viewing glass. The pandas' meals are scattered throughout their habitat to encourage movement, featuring bamboo, fruits, and vegetables.
Before venturing outside, the pandas undergo health checks, including mouth examinations and a reward system for cooperation. Training sessions, which occur three times a day, teach the pandas to cooperate with medical procedures. Training takes place daily, with the pandas most active between 9 am and 10:30 am. They spend their afternoons sleeping in separate indoor rooms.
The pandas' habitat is meticulously maintained by a team of agricultural researchers and landscapers, ensuring the pandas have a natural environment inspired by the Chinese Sichuan province.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
