Panda You You (优优), a female, was born on August 3, 1998, at the Wolong Hetaoping Base. She passed away on March 14, 2025, after unsuccessful emergency treatment. Since You You entered old age, the panda center implemented a health and wellness plan, strengthening her care and nutrition. Her overall condition, including appetite and spirit, remained relatively stable. However, by the end of 2024, You You began experiencing a loss of appetite and weakened digestion.
Veterinarians conducted blood and urine tests, which revealed anemia, proteinuria, hematuria, and abnormal kidney function indicators. After consulting with nephrology experts from a renowned hospital, she was preliminarily diagnosed with chronic kidney failure accompanied by anemia. Despite continuous efforts from the panda center and hospitals, her condition did not fundamentally improve. On the evening of March 12, You You collapsed, experiencing breathing difficulties and unconsciousness. She showed slight improvement after emergency treatment overnight. However, on the evening of March 13, she suffered a relapse of these symptoms. Despite another round of intensive emergency care, You You passed away at 9:55 AM on March 14, 2025.
Life of Panda You You
You You’s mother was Ying Ying, a wild panda from Sichuan, and her father was Lin Nan, a wild panda from Baishuijiang, Gansu.
On September 11, 2006, You You gave birth to twin daughters, Qian Qian and Duo Duo, at Hetaoping. Qian Qian was Ying Ying’s youngest offspring, while Duo Duo was Ling Ling’s child. Duo Duo is currently residing at the Linhugu Sai Panda Pavilion in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia.
On September 28, 2007, You You gave birth to her daughter, Xin Ni’er, at Hetaoping. The father was Wu Gang. Xin Ni’er later gave birth to her daughter Hua Ni at six years old and twin sons, Hua Bao and Xin Bao, at eight years old. Xin Ni’er once participated in wild training with her son Xin Bao, alongside peers Ba Xi and Ying Xue. However, during the training, she suddenly suffered from intestinal obstruction and passed away on February 26, 2016, despite treatment efforts.
On July 23, 2009, You You gave birth to Xiang Lu, the world’s first successfully born giant panda cub conceived through artificial insemination using frozen semen.
On October 19, 2010, at Bifengxia, You You gave birth to twin cubs, with her daughter Zhi Chun surviving. The father was Lu Lu. On September 27, 2015, Zhi Chun and Di Di were sent to Anyang People’s Park, returning to Shenshuping in March 2018. Zhi Chun has since given birth to five cubs: Xiang Zhu, Tao Su, Ai Lian, Yuan Fu, and a 2022 cub. She continued her sister Xin Ni’er’s legacy in wild training, initially taking her daughter Tao Su for training. However, due to some unmet criteria, Tao Su was transitioned back to captive care. Currently, Zhi Chun is training with her 2022 cub in the second stage of the Tiantai Mountain wild training program.
On August 9, 2014, You You gave birth to twin cubs, with her daughter Bing Hua surviving. The father was Lu Lu. Bing Hua is currently residing at Shenyang Forest Wildlife Park.
On September 3, 2016, You You was transferred to Shanghai Wild Animal Park, where she gave birth to twins: Yue Yue (male) and Ban Ban (female).
On February 9, 2018, she was relocated to the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center’s Wolong Shenshuping Base. On August 14, 2019, at 21 years old, You You gave birth to her son, Ya Nan. The father was Jin Ke.
Born in a conservation base, You You embodied the mission of a “heroic mother” throughout her life – raising nine cubs, some of whom became pioneers in wild training, some traveled overseas as envoys of friendship, and some became the parents of a new generation of star pandas. If there is another life, may You You be a true wild panda, rolling in misty bamboo forests, chasing streams under the moonlight, and leaving her fluffy paw prints at the foot of snowy mountains – free from enclosures, free from human intervention, living solely by instinct, growing freely in the world that belongs to her.
As a passionate panda lover, I’m here to share the unique stories and wonders of each panda. Through these posts, I hope to spread the love for these adorable giants and inspire others to join the effort to protect them. Let’s celebrate the magic of pandas together and help ensure their future!