Cheng Da (成大/Chengda) is a giant panda who’ll steal your heart with her quirky yet endearing personality! While her affection for her younger brother, Cheng Xiao, is undeniably sweet, it’s her hilarious antics as a mother that really make her stand out. From trading her cub for a sweetened milk bowl to the occasional distracted parenting moment, Cheng Da proves that even panda moms have their fun and playful sides.
Basic Information
- Name: Cheng Da (成大)
- Meaning of the Name: The Elder Cub of Cheng Family
- Date of Birth: August 15, 2011
- Gender: Female
- Lineage Number: 824
- Birthplace: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Mother: Cheng Ji (成绩)
- Twin Brother: Cheng Xiao (成小)
- Siblings: Ji You (绩优), Ji Li (绩丽), Ying Ying (迎迎), Ni Ni (妮妮), Cheng Shuang (成双), Cheng Dui (成对), Cheng Jiu (成就) and Cheng Shi (成实)
Intriguing Details of Panda Cheng Da
Spoiled Big Brother: During his early years, Cheng Da had a strong affection for his younger brother, Cheng Xiao. Whenever Cheng Xiao would snuggle up to him, Cheng Da would gently lean in, his eyes filled with fondness and protectiveness. If any mischievous playmates tried to bully Cheng Xiao, Cheng Da would immediately step in without hesitation, creating a protective barrier around his brother.
Unique Parenting Style: Cheng Da has been jokingly referred to by netizens as the “worst panda mom.” She is often willing to let the caretakers take her cub away in exchange for food, such as bowls of milk, honey, or apples. Sometimes, she even “bullies” her own cub to claim food or toys for herself.
A Sweet Deal for Milk: On one occasion, a caretaker tried to trade a bowl of milk with Cheng Da to take her cub for a check-up. However, Cheng Da wasn’t happy when she smelled the milk, as it wasn’t sweet enough – it lacked honey. Only when the caretaker added double the amount of honey did Cheng Da reluctantly allow her cub to be taken away, happily enjoying the milk afterward.
Distracted Parenting: Cheng Da can often be distracted while caring for her cub. Once, while lying on the ground to nurse, she flipped over and accidentally tossed her cub into the air. On another occasion, while eating bamboo shoots, she dropped one, which landed on her baby, causing the little one to cry out in pain.
Life Experience of Panda Chengda
Juvenile Period: Cheng Da spent her early years at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where she received meticulous care and nurturing.
Exhibition Experience: In September 2013, Cheng Da and her brother Cheng Xiao were sent to Hangzhou Zoo for a short-term exhibition. In September 2016, Cheng Da concluded her exhibition period and returned to the Chengdu Research Base.
Breeding Contributions: As a female giant panda, Cheng Da has made significant contributions to breeding. She gave birth to two sets of twins on June 27, 2017, and June 11, 2019. The 2017 cubs were named Da Mei (大美) and Cheng Lan (成兰), while the 2019 cubs were named Cheng Feng (成风) and Cheng Lang (成浪). Cheng Lang the lightest newborn giant panda cub globally).