Mei Lan (美兰), affectionately known as Lannie or “Big Sister,” is a male giant panda who has captivated hearts both in the United States and China with his gentle demeanor and distinctive appearance. Born on September 6, 2006, at Zoo Atlanta, Mei Lan became the first panda cub born as part of the “Giant Panda International Cooperation Breeding Project” between the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Zoo Atlanta. Though initially misidentified as a female, this charismatic panda has gone on to become a global ambassador for conservation, forging connections between nations and inspiring people worldwide.
Basic Information
- Name: Mei Lan (美兰)
- English Names: Lannie
- Gender: Male
- Studbook Number: 649
- Date of Birth: September 6, 2006
- Birthplace: Zoo Atlanta, USA
- Mother: Lun Lun (伦伦)
- Father: Yang Yang (洋洋)
- Siblings: Xi Lan (喜兰), Bao Lan (宝兰), Mei Lun (美轮), Mei Huan (美奂), Ya Lun (雅伦), Xi Lun (喜伦)
Intriguing Details of Panda Mei Lan
Appearance: Mei Lan inherited the distinctive features of the “Puffy Face” panda lineage, characterized by clear fur patterns, a fluffy face, bright round eyes, and long eyelashes.
Name Origin: On December 15, 2006, Mei Lan celebrated her 100th day of life. After a public online poll, she was named “Mei Lan,” meaning “The Beauty of Atlanta.” Her English name is Mei Lan, though American panda fans affectionately call her “Lannie.”
Elegant and Gentle: Mei Lan has a calm and quiet demeanor, preferring to spend time alone, enjoying her own company. She walks leisurely and at a relaxed pace, eats slowly and carefully, and sleeps with a well-poised posture. All these traits contribute to her graceful and gentle temperament.
Matchmaking Story: After returning to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Mei Lan was arranged for a series of matchmaking activities. After spending some time with a male panda named “Yong Yong (勇勇),” the staff noticed that Mei Lan was displaying behaviors typical of a male panda during sexual maturity. A thorough examination revealed that Mei Lan was, in fact, a male panda. This surprising twist turned what was thought to be a female “fiancée” into a “brother” instead. This revelation left both Yong Yong and another male panda, “Wu Yi (五一),” who had fallen in love with Mei Lan at first sight, feeling disappointed. Especially Wu Yi, who, despite learning that Mei Lan was male, continued to harbor deep affection for him and remained devoted for many years.
Life Experience of Panda Mei Lan
Birth: Mei Lan was the first giant panda born as part of the “Giant Panda International Cooperation Breeding Project” between the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Zoo Atlanta. At birth, Mei Lan was mistakenly identified as female due to his round physique and gentle temperament, and was cared for by the zookeepers at Zoo Atlanta as a female panda.
Early Life: Mei Lan’s mother, Lun Lun, was extremely attentive and protective, always following Mei Lan closely whenever he climbed, and would gently bring him down if he ventured too high.
Return to China and Adaptation: On February 5, 2010, Mei Lan, along with another panda named Tai Shan (泰山), returned to China on a special flight and was housed at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. After a one-month quarantine and health check, Mei Lan made his public debut in China on March 15, 2010.
Global Ambassador: On February 11, 2010, Mei Lan was selected as the global ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund’s “Earth Hour” campaign and was inducted into the honorary ambassador roster for the event. Over the years, Mei Lan has participated in several “Earth Hour” ceremonies, advocating for environmental protection and the conservation of endangered species.
Gender Mix-Up: In September 2011, Mei Lan exhibited signs of male panda maturity, prompting further testing, which revealed that Mei Lan was actually male. This surprising discovery did not diminish his popularity among fans.
Celebirty Visit: On March 26, 2014, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Chengdu Panda Base and met Mei Lan at the “Sun Nursery” during her tour of the facility.
Move to Beijing: On September 21, 2017, Mei Lan was flown to Beijing and officially greeted visitors at the Beijing Zoo on October 16, 2017, where he currently resides.
Breeding and Offspring
With Panda Qi Fu (奇福):
- Qi Qiao (七巧) and Qi Xi (七喜): Twin sisters born in 2014. They now live in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
- Fu Shun (福顺) and Fu Lai (福来): A pair of twins born in 2016, with Fu Shun being the male and Fu Lai the female.
- Fu Duo Duo (福多多): Born in 2021, Fu Duo Duo is the youngest child of Mei Lan and Qi Fu. She is also said to be the “highly attractive princess” of the family.
With Panda Meng Meng (萌萌):
- Meng Lan (萌兰): Born in 2015, this male panda is a major star at the Beijing Zoo, loved by visitors and widely popular.
- Meng Bao (萌宝) and Meng Yu (萌玉): Twin sisters born in 2018. They currently live with their mother, Meng Meng, in Beijing.
With Other Female Pandas:
- He Hua (和花) and He Ye (和叶): A male and female pair of twins born in 2020 to Cheng Gong (成功). The daughter, He Hua, has become a major celebrity in the panda world.
- Si Nian (思念) and Si Yun Yun (思筠筠): Twin brothers born in 2015, with Si Yuan (思缘) as the mother. They now live in Xiamen.
- Xing Guang (星光) and Xing Chen (星辰): A pair of twins, born in 2016 to Xing Ya (星雅). Xing Guang currently lives in Shanghai, while Xing Chen is undergoing rewilding training.
- Ji Mei (绩美), Ji Lan (绩兰), and Ji Xiao (绩笑): Ji Mei and Ji Lan are a male and female pair of twins born in 2017. They now live in Nanning, Guangxi. Ji Xiao, a female born in 2019, quickly became a top-tier panda star, making headlines multiple times.
- Da Mei (大美) and Cheng Lan (成兰): A male and female pair of twins born in 2019, with Cheng Da (成大) as the mother. Da Mei currently resides in Changsha, while Cheng Lan remains in Chengdu.
- Cheng Feng (成风) and Cheng Lang (成浪): Twin sisters born in 2019.
- He Feng (和风) and He Yu (和雨): A pair of twins born in 2016 to Cheng Gong (成功).