De De (德德/Dede)’s journey began with a historic moment at Madrid Zoo on September 7, 2010, as he and his twin brother, A Bao, made headlines as the first giant panda twins conceived via artificial insemination. While A Bao may steal the spotlight with his playful antics, De De’s calm, reserved nature gives him an aura of quiet charm, making him an endearing presence in the panda world. His story reflects the delicate balance of care and love that went into his upbringing.
Basic Information
- Name: De De (德德)
- Lineage Number: 792
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: September 7, 2010
- Birthplace: Madrid Zoo, Spain
- Mother: Hua Zui Ba (花嘴巴)
- Father: Bing Xing (冰星)
- Twin Brother: A Bao (阿宝)
- Siblings: Zhu Li Ba (竹莉娜), You You (友友), Xing Bao (星宝), Jiu Jiu (久久)
Life Experience of Panda De De
Birth: De De was born on September 7, 2010, at the Madrid Zoo, alongside his twin brother A Bao. Their birth marked a historic milestone as the first pair of giant panda twins conceived through artificial insemination as part of China’s international breeding cooperation program.
Early Life: When giant panda mothers give birth to twins, they usually choose to nurse the healthier and stronger cub, often abandoning the other. As a result, when De De and his twin brother A Bao were born, one was nursed by Hua Zui Ba, while the other was placed in an incubator and cared for by zoo staff. To ensure the healthy development of both cubs, the Madrid Zoo’s care team implemented a 24-hour rotating care schedule involving 12 staff members, making sure the cubs took turns being nursed by their mother.
Naming Ceremony: On December 21, 2010, Madrid Zoo announced the name De De, which was selected by children from both China and Spain from four candidate names. His brother, A Bao, was named after the protagonist of Kung Fu Panda 2, symbolizing innocence and purity. De De’s personality is quite different from that of his lively and playful twin brother. While A Bao enjoys being the center of attention, De De prefers quietly lying alone, appearing calm and reserved.
Return to China: In May 2013, De De and A Bao departed from Madrid Zoo to return to China. By the time of their departure, both brothers weighed around 80 kilograms, making them relatively heavy compared to other pandas of the same age. During the farewell ceremony, the zoo presented them with bamboo cakes and released black-and-white balloons to wish them a pleasant journey.
Life Today: After returning to China, De De lived for a while at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. In 2015, he moved to the serene environment of Dujiangyan Panda Valley, where he continues to live to this day.
