Da Bai Tu (大白兔), a charming female giant panda, was born on July 2, 2010, at the Beijing Zoo. With a lineage number of 766, she is the daughter of Ying Hua, a respected panda, while her father’s identity remains debated, with suggestions ranging from Gu Gu to Da Di. Da Bai Tu’s life has been marked by both challenges and achievements, making her an important figure in panda conservation. This introduction explores her early experiences, breeding contributions, and distinctive physical features that have endeared her to many.
Basic Information
- Name: Da Bai Tu (大白兔)
- Maning of the Name: Big Rabbit
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: July 2, 2010
- Place of Birth: Beijing Zoo
- Mother: Ying Hua (瑛华)
- Father: Da Di (大地)
- Lineage Number: 766
- Siblings: Dian Dian (点点), Fu Xing (福星), Fu Tao (福涛), Fu Lin (福琳), Xiao Jiu (小九), Hua Bao (华宝), Fu Lu (福禄)
Intriguing Details of Panda Da Bai Tu
Appearance: Da Bai Tu inherits her grandmother Ying Ying’s round and robust physique. She has a plush, white coat, with distinctive black eye patches that enhance her adorable appearance.
Mischievous: Da Bai Tu is known for her lively and adorable personality. As a cub, she once secretly turned on the tap, and when her nanny caught her, she looked defiantly unrepentant. After having cubs, she enjoys running around with the little ones in her mouth, climbing up and down, earning her the playful nickname “Troublemaker Rabbit.”
Relationship with Xiao Bai Tu: Da Bai Tu and Xiao Bai Tu (小白兔/Little Rabbit) are often mistaken for twins, but in reality, they each have different parents. Da Bai Tu is the daughter of Ying Hua and Da Di, while Xiao Bai Tu is the daughter of Ji Ni (吉妮) and Wu Gang (武岗). However, the two pandas grew up together. Due to their playful and adorable nature, their keeper was so fond of them that he named them Da Bai Tu and Xiao Bai Tu.
Life Experience of Panda Da Bai Tu
Birth and Foster Care: Due to her mother, Ying Hua, prioritizing care for her surviving cub, and the lack of initial milk and conditions to raise a cub at the Beijing Zoo, Da Bai Tu was urgently transported to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base of the Sichuan Giant Panda Research Center for artificial rearing.
Return to Beijing: After spending some time in Ya’an, Da Bai Tu returned to the Beijing Zoo in the following year (2011) to continue her growth journey among her fellow pandas.
Involvement in Breeding Programs: In April 2017, Da Bai Tu was sent back to Sichuan to participate in a breeding program at the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center.
Breeding Achievements: On May 29, 2019, Da Bai Tu made headlines as a vital contributor to the Beijing Zoo, successfully giving birth to the first set of panda twins of the year, named Ji Nian (吉年) (brother) and Ji Qing (吉庆) (sister).
Second Litter: In 2023, Da Bai Tu gave birth to another son, who was trained in a field program under the care of the giant panda Tian Tian (田田). Meanwhile, Da Bai Tu helped look after Tian Tian’s cub.