Yong Yong (勇勇/Yongyong), or as his fans lovingly call him, “King Yong,” is not just your average panda – he’s a true icon in the panda world. From his early days as the smartest in his class to his playful love for water and romantic escapades, his charm knows no bounds. With a legacy of over 40 cubs and a knack for winning hearts (both panda and human), this charismatic giant proves that pandas are anything but ordinary!
Basic Information
- Name: Yong Yong (勇勇)
- Meaning of the Name: Bravery
- Nicknames: King Yong (勇皇)
- Pedigree Number: 584
- Date of Birth: August 26, 2004
- Birthplace: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Current Residence: Panda Valley, Dujiangyan
- Mother: Shu Qing (蜀庆)
- Father: Ping Ping (屏屏)
Intriguing Details of Panda Yong Yong
Elder Brother in the Kindergarten: From a young age, Yong Yong exhibited exceptional intelligence, standing out among his peers. By the time he was one year old, he was already noticeably smarter than other pandas of the same age. As the eldest among the pandas born that year, Yong Yong took on the role of the big brother, leading his younger siblings through life in the panda kindergarten.
Bath Lover: One of Yong Yong’s favorite pastimes is playing in the water. Every morning, he can be found sitting in his pool, kicking at the water with his feet in a focused and joyful manner.
Master of Romance: Yong Yong’s personality is a unique combination of boldness and gentleness. He is known for his fierce strength when it comes to interactions with male pandas, earning a reputation for being unbeatable in playful fights. However, when facing female pandas, Yong Yong becomes calm, patient, and gentle. His affectionate and attentive demeanor has made him very popular among female pandas, earning him the title of “master of romance.”
Panda Porn: When the female panda Ke Lin (科琳) entered her estrus period, she showed no interest in her enclosure mate, Yong Yong. To encourage their pairing, the keepers came up with a creative solution: playing videos of pandas mating. Initially, both Ke Lin and Yong Yong were curious about the scenes on the screen. Gradually, they became more focused on watching the footage. Eventually, the method worked – Yong Yong developed an interest in Ke Lin, and they successfully mated naturally. This unique event garnered widespread attention at the time, even earning a spot in TIME magazine’s list of the most surprising photos of the year.
A Persistent Lover: Mei Bang (梅浜), a fiery-tempered panda who returned from overseas, made quite an impression on Yong Yong. During their first encounter, Mei Bin fiercely rejected Yong Yong’s friendly advances, even hitting him. However, Yong Yong was undeterred and became even more enamored with Mei Bin. After overcoming their initial struggles, the pair eventually bonded and welcomed their adorable daughter, Mei Lan (梅兰).
Breeding Contributions: Yong Yong’s role in the breeding program at the Chengdu Panda Base has been immense. As a stud panda, he has successfully fathered more than 40 cubs, both registered and unregistered, contributing significantly to the survival of the species. Some of his offspring have become quite famous in their own right, such as Yuan Run (园润) and Oreo (奥莉奥).
