If you think you’ve seen every panda personality under the sun, think again! Xiang Lin (香林/Xianglin), with his playful curiosity and food-driven antics, is a panda like no other. Born into a legacy of wild pandas, he’s yet to follow his siblings’ lead in breeding, but his endless fascination with the world around him keeps things interesting. From longing glances at his neighbors to his unyielding appetite, Xiang Lin’s story is full of unexpected twists.
Basic Information
- Name: Xiang Lin (香林)
- Meaning of the Name: Fragrant and Forest
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: July 24, 2009
- Place of Birth: Ya’an Bifengxia Base, China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center
- Pedigree Number: 748
- Mother: Hai Zi (海子)
- Siblings: Le Le (乐乐), Xiang Ge (香格), Xin Xin (鑫鑫), Ding Ding (丁丁), You You (酉酉)
Intriguing Details of Panda Xiang Lin
Breeding Efforts: Xiang Lin’s mother is a wild giant panda, passing on precious bloodlines. However, Xiang Lin himself seems uninterested in breeding. His older brother, Xiang Ge, is already the father of several giant pandas, while his younger siblings, Xin Xin and Ding Ding, both gave birth to their own cubs in 2023. Despite visiting the breeding facility every year, Xiang Lin has only one success. Even when the caretakers try to encourage him with extra meals, it doesn’t work. It remains uncertain whether Xiang Lin will eventually take the place of his brother and continue the family lineage.
Food Cravings: Xiang Lin has a huge appetite for food. On one occasion, a caretaker casually plucked a few bamboo leaves and started playing with them outside the enclosure. To his surprise, Xiang Lin immediately dropped his toy and stared at the bamboo leaves longingly, bleating with hunger. The caretaker, feeling helpless, threw the bamboo leaves into the enclosure, and Xiang Lin eagerly grabbed them, chomping them down with great delight.
Curiosity: Xiang Lin is very curious about the lives of his neighbors. When he has free time, he enjoys climbing onto the wooden platform and silently watching the activities next door. This was especially noticeable in 2024 when he became neighbors with Bing Bing. It’s unclear whether he developed a fondness for Bing Bing, or if he was simply checking to see if Bing Bing’s food and toys were more plentiful than his own.
Life Experience of Panda Xiang Lin
Birth: On July 24, 2009, giant panda Xiang Lin was born at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base of the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center.
Frequent Relocations: On August 7, 2013, Xiang Lin was sent to the Emei Xianzhizhujian Ecological Park for cooperative exchanges. On January 14, 2015, Xiang Lin returned to the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center’s Dujiangyan Base, where he moved several times over the following months before finally settling at the Shenshuping Base in Wolong in 2018.
Move to Chengdu: In April 2024, Xiang Lin moved again, this time to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for a new round of cooperative exchange.
