On January 14, the second giant panda cub born in the Netherlands, Lang Yue, made her first public appearance at Ouwehands Zoo, accompanied by her mother, Wu Wen. The duo ventured from their indoor enclosure to the outdoor habitat, sparking great interest from both visitors and zoo staff.
Lang Yue was born on July 12, 2024. She underwent a veterinary check-up in December, during which a DNA test was conducted to determine her gender. On January 14, the zoo officially revealed that Lang Yue is a female panda.
To celebrate Lang Yue’s debut with the public, the zoo prepared some bamboo for her. However, it didn’t take long before her mother, Wu Wen, finished all of it.
At 10:30 AM, the door to the panda house was opened, and Wu Wen was the first to step out. The cub, still fast asleep, remained inside. Over an hour later, Lang Yue finally ventured out, taking her first tentative steps into the enclosure. As she cautiously explored her new surroundings, her mother kept a watchful eye on her. Lang Yue quickly started climbing on a wooden platform, gaining confidence as she explored more of the outdoor space.
According to an agreement between China and the Netherlands, Lang Yue can stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of four years before being sent back to China to participate in international conservation research programs for the endangered species.
Wu Wen and Xing Ya arrived at Ouwehands Zoo in April 2017 from Sichuan, China. The zoo’s first panda cub, Fan Xing, was born on May 1, 2020. Fan Xing returned to China in September 2023.