Xian Nv (仙女), also known as Zhenzhen in Japan, is a beloved female giant panda whose life has been marked by remarkable achievements in panda conservation and breeding. Born on July 3, 2005, at the Hetaoping Wild Training Base of the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center, Xian Nv’s life has taken her on an international journey, including a move to Japan’s Ueno Zoo, where she made significant contributions to the global giant panda population.
Basic Information
- Name: Xian Nv (仙女)
- Japanese Name: Zhen Zhen (真真)
- Gender: Female
- Genealogy Number: 600
- Birthdate: July 3, 2005
- Birthplace: Hetaoping Wild Training Base, China Giant Panda Protection Research Center
- Father: Lin Lin (琳琳)
- Mother: Ying Ying (英英)
- Twin Brother: Xian Zi (仙子)
- Siblings: You You (优优), Liang Liang (亮亮), Yang Yang (阳阳), Ying Hua (瑛华), Ying Mei (瑛美), Meng Meng (萌萌), Yun Yun (韵韵), Shu Qin (淑琴), Sen Sen (森森)
Life Experience of Panda Xian Nv
- Early Years: Xian Nv spent her early years at the Hetaoping Wild Training Base, where she began to adjust to life in the wild.
- March 26, 2008: Xian Nv was sent on a mission to Guangzhou’s Chimelong Safari Park.
- July 20, 2010: Xian Nv returned to China and relocated to the Bifengxia Base of the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center in Ya’an.
- February 21, 2011: Xian Nv began her international journey when she moved to Japan’s Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, along with another panda, Bi Li (比力).
- September 29, 2024: Xian Nv was safely returned to China after her time at Ueno Zoo, where she had been living for 13 years.
Breeding Achievements of Panda Xian Nv
- In July 2012, Xian Nv gave birth to a cub, but unfortunately, it passed away from pneumonia just six days later.
- On June 12, 2017, Xian Nv gave birth to her daughter, Xiang Xiang (香香). On the morning of December 19, Xiang Xiang officially met visitors for the first time. This marked the first time in 29 years that Ueno Zoo had exhibited a panda cub, the last being You You (悠悠), who later returned to China. Xiang Xiang’s name was carefully selected from numerous suggestions and was personally announced by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
- On June 23, 2021, Xian Nv gave birth to twin cubs, Xiao Xiao (晓晓) and Lei Lei (蕾蕾), making them the first panda twins born at Ueno Zoo. The two looked very similar, so keepers dyed a green ring on Xiao Xiao’s waist to distinguish them. The name “Xiao Xiao” symbolizes the arrival of dawn and brightness, while “Lei Lei” represents a budding flower about to bloom.