BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A pair of spotted deer and two goats that Taiwan sends as gifts to the mainland are likely to be released in a forest park in China's eastern province Shandong on April 16, a mainland official said Wednesday.

The animals will live in Liugongdao National Forest Park in Weihai city, Shandong Province, said Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Fan said all preparations have been made for the park to receive the animals.

The two deer are named Fan Xing and Dian Dian (when linked, the names mean "dotted stars" in Chinese), while the goats are named Xiyangyang and Leyangyang (both names mean "happy" in Chinese).

The Chinese mainland sent a pair of pandas, "Tuan Tuan" and "Yuan Yuan" (together meaning "reunion"), as a gift to Taiwan in December 2008.