Zhen Zhen

Zhen Zhen
Other nameChinese: 珍珍
SpeciesGiant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
SexFemale
BornZhen Zhen
(2007-08-03)August 3, 2007
San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, United States
NationalityChinese
OccupationResearch and breeding panda
EmployerSan Diego Zoo (former), Wolong National Nature Reserve
Known forFourth cub born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao; released into the wild in 2018
OwnerChina Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
ResidenceWolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China
Parent
Bai Yun (mother)

Gao Gao (father)

OffspringYun Chuan (male, b. 2019)
Named afterMeans "Precious" in Chinese
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Zhen Zhen (Chinese: 珍珍; pinyin: Zhēn zhēn; lit. 'Precious'; born August 3, 2007) is a female giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo. She is Bai Yun's fourth cub, and Gao Gao's third. Zhen Zhen has one half-sister, Hua Mei, and four full siblings, Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Yun Zi, and Xiao Liwu.

She made her public debut at the San Diego Zoo on December 22, 2007, and was sent to China in 2010. She received media attention for her mating session with Lu Lu in April 2015, which lasted for 7 minutes and 45 seconds. She gave birth to two sets of twin cubs, one set in 2015 and the other set on July 17, 2021, within the same hour that another female giant panda, Susan, also gave birth to twin cubs.

Early life and family

Zhen Zhen was born on August 3, 2007, at the San Diego Zoo, to Bai Yun and Gao Gao, making her Bai Yun's fourth cub, and Gao Gao's third. In Chinese, her name means "Precious". Zhen Zhen has four full siblings—Mei Sheng, Su Lin, Yun Zi, and Xiao Liwu—and, through her mother Bai Yun, she has one half-sister, Hua Mei.

On November 26, 2007, the San Diego Zoo announced that the cub had been named Zhen Zhen upon her reaching 100 days of age, in accordance with Chinese traditions. The name had won a vote with 36% of the votes in a contest of four finalists chosen out of more than 2,400 names submitted by zoo visitors. The other three finalists were Li Hua (Chinese: 丽华; lit. 'beauty'), Ming Zhu (Chinese: 明珠; lit. 'pearl'), and Xiao Li (Chinese: 小丽; lit. 'little beauty').

Zhen Zhen made her public debut on December 22, 2007, and was weaned in early 2009. Zhen Zhen, along with her sister Su Lin, were sent to Bifengxia Panda Base in China on September 24, 2010.

Life in China

Motherhood

After returning to the Bifengxia Panda Base, Zhen Zhen gave birth to twin female cubs, Tuan Zi and Chun Qiao, on August 8, 2015. In April of that year, Zhen Zhen and a male panda, Lu Lu (芦芦; Lú lú), mated for 7 minutes and 45 seconds, which exceeded the species's average mating duration of 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Lu Lu broke his own record with female Xi Mei the same year; their mating session lasted 18 minutes and 3 seconds. On July 28, 2019, Zhen Zhen gave birth to a male cub, Yun Chuan.

Zhen Zhen gave birth to another set of twin cubs on July 17, 2021. Another giant panda, Su Shan (苏珊; Sū shān), gave birth to twin cubs within the same hour. Three years later, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, a female panda, were sent to the San Diego Zoo, Zhen Zhen's birthplace, where they were announced to have arrived on June 28, 2024.

Release

On May 31, 2018, Zhen Zhen was released into the wild as part of a research project. She walked through Jinbo village, Wenchuan County, in search of food, and her presence drew attention from the residents. Zhen Zhen explored for several hours, before being brought back to the Wolong Shensuping Panda Base. Wu Daifu, the director of the Hetaoping panda training base said in a phone interview with China Central Television that the base allows Zhen Zhen out of her enclosure to possibly mate with wild pandas.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "在美出生的大熊猫'珍珍'首次与观众见面(图)" [The giant panda 'Zhenzhen' born in the United States met the audience for the first time (picture)]. Sohu (in Chinese). December 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Panda cub makes public appearance". The Gainesville Sun. December 22, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "大功臣！大熊猫高高回国 繁育5只后代是个'英雄爸爸'" [Great 'hero!' The giant panda Gao Gao returned to China to breed 5 offspring 'hero father']. Qianzhan (in Chinese). December 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ "美国出生的中国大熊猫"华美"将"衣锦还乡"(图)" [American-born Chinese giant panda Hua Mei will 'return home in rich clothes' (photo)]. China News Service (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. August 24, 2002. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ "S.D. Zoo Announces Panda Cub's Name". KPBS. November 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Make Us Proud, Su and Zhen!". San Diego Zoo. September 25, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Good luck to Su Lin and Zhen Zhen". Pandas Live On. September 25, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "喜报！大熊猫珍珍苏珊同日诞下双胞胎" [Good news! Giant panda 'Zhenzhen' Susan gave birth to twins on the same day]. Sichuan Online (in Chinese). July 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Two pairs of panda twins born on same day in China's Sichuan". Xinhua News Agency. July 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Panda Zhen Zhen: A Colorful Life". Panda Tribe. February 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ "大熊猫交配实况全球首播 7分45秒破交配纪录(图)" [World Premiere of Giant Panda Mating Footage: 7-Minute-45-Second Session Breaks Mating Record (Photos)]. MNW (in Chinese). Xinhua Net. April 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "熊猫交配实况首播：交配近8分钟引外媒围观" [Panda mating live broadcast: nearly 8 minutes of mating attracted foreign media to watch]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). April 4, 2015. Archived from the original on August 20, 2026. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ "大熊猫芦芦交配时长18分再破纪录" [The giant panda Lulu broke the record again after mating for 18 minutes]. Sina Corporation (in Chinese). April 4, 2015. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  14. ↑ "大熊猫交配实况全球首播 官方：普及大熊猫知识(图)" [The global premiere of the live broadcast of giant panda mating is official: popularizing knowledge about giant pandas (picture)]. Phoenix Television (in Chinese). April 5, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Panda Yun Chuan: Ambassador to the USA". Panda Tribe. March 7, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Leaders Visit China; Meet Giant Panda Pair To Be Cared For By San Diego Zoo". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. April 29, 2024. Archived from the original on May 14, 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ "四喜临门！中国保护大熊猫研究中心神树坪基地1小时内降生4只幼崽" [Four "Happiness!" Four cubs were born in one hour at the Shenshuping base of the Chinese Research Center for the Protection of Giant Pandas]. Sichuan Online (in Chinese). July 18, 2021.
  18. ↑ "一对中国大熊猫即将赴美" [A Chinese giant panda is about to go to the United States]. Voice of America (in Chinese). April 2024.
  19. ↑ "一對大熊貓安全抵達加州聖地亞哥動物園" [A pair of giant pandas has safely arrived at the San Diego Zoo in California]. Voice of America. June 29, 2024.
  20. 1 2 Liangyu, ed. (June 1, 2018). "Giant panda roaming into village in Sichuan, SW China". Xinhua Net.
  21. 1 2 3 "Panda takes excursion into town in southwestern China". Taipei Times. June 6, 2018.