Long Long (隆隆), a female giant panda born on July 31, 2013, at Guangzhou’s Chimelong Safari Park, made history as the first panda born in Guangdong Province and South China. Her birth captured the attention of many, and her naming became a highly anticipated event. Long Long has grown up to become an important part of the national panda breeding program, and in 2018, she became a mother herself. Her life story reflects not only her significance as a symbol of conservation but also her importance in the efforts to protect this endangered species.
Basic Information
- Name: Long Long (隆隆)
- Gender: Female
- Studbook Number: 878
- Birthdate: July 31, 2013
- Birthplace: Chimelong Safari Park, Guangzhou
- Father: Lin Lin (琳琳)
- Mother: Mei Qing (梅清)
Growth Experience
Birth: Long Long was born at 12:55 a.m. on July 31, 2013, to her mother Mei Qing. She holds the distinction of being the first giant panda born in Guangdong Province and the entire South China region, making her birth a significant milestone in the area’s panda conservation efforts.
Naming: In late September 2013, Chimelong Safari Park launched a naming campaign for the first panda born in South China. The event attracted over 100,000 participants and garnered nearly 10,000 name suggestions. The top three names were selected through public voting, with “Long Long” winning 18,916 votes, followed by “Yue Yue” with 17,785 votes, and “Yang Yang” with 15,426 votes. Ultimately, Long Long’s name was chosen by her mother Mei Qing, who made the final decision by drawing lots.
Breeding: In May 2018, Chimelong Safari Park announced that Long Long had successfully joined the national panda breeding program and was in good health, with the potential to become a mother. On February 21, keepers noticed signs of estrus in Long Long, and due to the short window of time for female pandas to breed, every moment was critical. She was quickly transferred to the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base, where she successfully mated three times with a male panda named Lan Zai (兰仔) on March 3. After a 132-day pregnancy, Long Long gave birth to a healthy male cub on July 12, 2018, who was named “Long Zai (隆仔).”
