Si Yuan (思缘/Siyuan), with her charming “little white gloves,” embodies the gentle yet powerful spirit of panda motherhood. Known for her nurturing care, she has raised not only her own cubs but also took on the role of a super nanny for several other cubs. From a picky eater to an iconic “Auntie White Gloves,” her journey showcases both the challenges and joys of being a panda, making her one of the most endearing figures in the world of conservation.
Basic Information
- Name: Si Yuan (思缘)
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: October 22, 2004
- Lineage Number: 593
- Place of Birth: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Mother: Qi Yuan (奇缘)
- Father: Shi Shi (师师)
- Siblings: Yuan da (缘大), Yuan Xiao (缘小), Qi Guo (奇果), Qi Yi (奇一), Qi Fu (奇福), Qi Miao (奇妙), Ming Ming (明明),
Intriguing Details of Panda Si Yuan
Antie White Gloves: Si Yuan has a round face, a short snout, and lips that are a striking blend of black and red. Her most notable traits are the white fur on both of her front paws, which earned her the nickname “Little White Gloves” during her childhood. After becoming a mother, she is affectionately referred to as “Auntie White Gloves.”
A Picky Foodie: Although Si Yuan is a year older than her friend, Jing Jing, she was somewhat picky about her food during this period and tended to eat slowly. This resulted in Si Yuan being smaller in size compared to Jing Jing and weighing over ten kilograms less. However, as she matured, Si Yuan gradually corrected her picky eating habits, becoming more robust and ensuring that she cleaned her food thoroughly.
Super Nanny: From December 26, 2016, to January 3, 2017, Si Yuan took on the monumental task of caring for six one-year-old panda cubs, including her own twins, two cubs born to Jing Jing (晶晶) and the twins of Qing He (庆贺). During this period, there were touching moments when Si Yuan nursed four cubs at once, demonstrating her immense dedication and affection. She was gentle and caring towards all the cubs, and they all adored her, creating a beautiful bond among them.
Life Exprience of Panda Si Yuan
Early Childhood: At birth, Si Yuan weighed a mere 68 grams. Her mother, Qi Yuan, was a first-time mom who was somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility, leading to Si Yuan receiving artificial rearing assistance from the research base staff during her early growth. In a nurturing environment, she was also fostered by another panda mother, ensuring her healthy development.
Reception Director: In 2005, Siyuan “hosted” Singer Shun Zi, and in 2006, she welcomed the visits of various notable individuals, including singer Karen Mok, actress Xu Huixin, and Michael Levitt, the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, showcasing the giant panda’s unique charm as a national treasure and friendly ambassador for China.
Life with Friends: As Si Yuan transitioned into adulthood, she shared her living space with fellow pandas Jing Jing (晶晶), Yong Yong (勇勇), and Lan Zai (兰仔), a panda from the Lanzhou Zoo. This joyful coexistence continued until 2007 when three-year-old Lan Zai returned to his hometown of Lanzhou, leaving Si Yuan and Jing Jing to continue living together. However, due to Yong Yong’s frequent bullying of Si Yuan, he was moved to live with Ya Xing (娅星) and Ya Shuang (娅双), who were two years older, for “education.” Si Yuan then “downgraded” to live with Olympic panda Jing Jing, forming a close friendship with her.
First-time Motherhood: In 2012, Si Yuan became a first-time mother, but due to health issues with other mother pandas, she did not raise her biological cub, Si Yi (思一). Instead, she adopted and nurtured a panda cub named Yuan Run (园润), treating it as her own and raising it to be chubby and healthy.
Twin-Panda Mom: On August 2, 2015, Si Yuan gave birth to twins, Si Nian (思念) and Si Jun Jun (思筠筠), demonstrating her formidable maternal instincts. She even attempted to hold both cubs simultaneously and successfully raised them to healthy adulthood, showcasing her incredible strength and nurturing capability.
