Mei Lan (梅兰/Meilan), affectionately known as “Rou Rou” (Plumpness), had a rocky start to life but has since blossomed into a beloved panda with a gentle soul and a strong personality. Born on May 29, 2016, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Mei Lan faced early complications, requiring the intervention of devoted staff to ensure her survival. Raised by foster mothers, she grew into a sweet-natured panda with a fondness for food, especially pumpkins, which earned her the title “Pumpkin Princess.” Whether stealing milk or nibbling on a visitor’s phone, Mei Lan’s curiosity and charm make her an unforgettable character at Dujiangyan Panda Valley.
Basic Information
- Name: Mei Lan (梅兰)
- Nickname: Rou Rou (肉肉/Fatie and Plumpness)
- Lineage Number: 991
- Date of Birth: May 29, 2016
- Birthplace: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Current Residence: Dujiangyan Panda Valley
- Father: Yong Yong (勇勇)
- Mother: Mei Bang (梅浜)
Intriguing Details of Panda Mei Lan
Birth Complications: When Mei Lan was born, her mother, Mei Bang, was a first-time mom and seemed unsure of what to do. Unlike other panda mothers who instinctively pick up and cuddle their newborns, Mei Bang initially ignored her crying baby on the ground. Instead, she focused on licking the severed umbilical cord. As time passed, the baby’s body temperature began to drop, and it became clear that if immediate action wasn’t taken, the cub could be in life-threatening danger. In a state of urgency, the staff quickly removed the cub, placed it in an incubator, and after more than an hour, its body temperature slowly returned to normal. After cutting the umbilical cord and feeding the cub some mother’s milk, the staff decided to return the cub to Mei Bang in hopes that she would take care of her. When they placed the cub back in front of her, Mei Bang, who had been sleeping, initially showed no reaction. However, perhaps the continuous calls from her baby triggered her maternal instincts, and she finally stood up. After several attempts, she gently picked up the cub and began licking and cuddling it.
Experience with Foster Mothers: During her early years, Mei Lan was raised by several foster mothers, including Mao Mao (毛毛), Wen Li (文莉), and Da Jiao (大娇). All these foster mothers had strong maternal instincts and treated Mei Lan as their own child. Da Jiao, in particular, often played with Mei Lan and taught her various survival skills while they lived together.
Gentle Personality: Mei Lan has an exceptionally gentle temperament. Even when other panda companions accidentally stepped on her while she was sleeping, squashing her face, Mei Lan did not resist or retaliate.
Protective Over Food: Mei Lan is very protective of her food. If anyone disturbs her while eating, she will immediately react. On one occasion, Mei Lan was enjoying an apple when Qi Yi (奇一) ran over and snatched a small piece from her mouth. Mei Lan became furious and started swinging her fists at Qi Yi, delivering powerful blows as though trying to create afterimages with her quick movements. In another instance, when the zookeepers prepared four bowls of milk, Mei Lan managed to steal three of them, leaving the other three pandas to fight over the remaining bowl.
Love for Pumpkins: Mei Lan loves food, but her favorite treat is pumpkin, which has earned her the nickname “Pumpkin Princess.” When she eats pumpkin, she expresses pure joy, squinting her eyes happily and making a delightful “crunching” sound as she enjoys it.
Always Alert: Mei Lan is very cautious when eating, keeping a close watch on everything around her. She remains vigilant, constantly looking around and listening carefully, worried that someone might snatch her food. Once, while eating a pumpkin, she suddenly heard a car horn from a distance. Instantly, she hid the pumpkin under her arm, waiting for a while to make sure there was no danger before she resumed eating.
Nibbling on Phones: On September 22, 2023, a visitor at the Panda Valley accidentally dropped their phone into the enclosure. Mei Lan, who was nearby, discovered the phone and picked it up. She became curious about it and began tapping on the phone screen. She even held the cellphone up, seemingly to take a selfie. But eventually, she decieded to try its taste. Upon seeing this, other visitors were shocked and tried to stop Mei Lan, but she paid no attention and continued with her antics. She is the first panda in the world to own a cellphone.
Life Experience of Panda Mei Lan
Birth: Mei Lan was born on May 29, 2016, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. As the eldest of the 2016 batch, her size advantage became evident over time. However, despite her size, she could not walk by the age of four months and was humorously nicknamed “the big guy who couldn’t walk” for her crawling.
Relocations: At seven months old, Mei Lan began her “roaming” life, moving from the Sun Nursery to the Moon Nursery. By nine months, she could stand on her own without assistance. After a year, Mei Lan and nine other panda cubs moved to the Giant Panda Juvenile Garden to begin their collective life. On December 14, 2018, Mei Lan officially graduated from the Juvenile Garden and moved to Dujiangyan Panda Valley.