German rock star Peter Maffay has adopted a giant panda reared in captive in this capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday.

 

"I prefer panda over the World Cup right now," said Peter Maffay, a household name in Germany, who is on a charity tour for the protection of children in Chengdu.

 

He named the adopted panda Lily after the ice princess, a character in his theater play called Tabaluga in 1996.

 

The 57-year-old rock star, who has sold some 35 million records, has traveled to 13 countries on four continents since the beginning of this year on his current charity tour, called "Encounters," which is aimed at raising money and creating awareness of children's safety.

 

Maffay said that the giant panda has become a symbol for endangered animals. He hoped that his adoption of the giant panda will help create a public awareness in Germany of China's efforts to protect pandas.

 

The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and is found only in China. An estimated 1,500 pandas live in China and 48 are being raised in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2006)