Pandas coming home | Bridge between China and Japan: Giant panda Xiang Xiang's journey of adaptation

Early in the morning, there was a crowd outside the panda's enclosure. Inside the glass window, Zhao, the keeper, had just prepared fresh bamboo seeds and bamboo shoots for the giant panda Xiang Xiang. The panda then appeared in the forest, walked to the platform, skillfully found a comfortable position, and sat down, enjoying a hearty breakfast. And so, began Xiang Xiang's day in her homeland China.

In February 2023, the 5-year-old Xiang Xiang finally returned to Sichuan from the Ueno Zoo in Japan after several delays, but instead of meeting the public as quickly as the other pandas that had been returned to China, she finally made her official debut after eight months.

Zhao, a keeper at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center of Giant Panda, was the first keeper of Xiang Xiang after she returned to China.

She said that Xiang Xiang had a stress reaction after arriving in the new environment and took a long time to adapt. "She ran back and forth, refused to eat, didn't 'talk' to anyone, and even yelled at me. At that time, I thought she was a rather 'fierce' panda, but after getting along with her, I realized that she is smart and quiet."

To help Xiangxiang adapt to life in her hometown, Zhao softly communicated with Xiang Xiang, cutting down more than a dozen types of bamboo around the park for the panda to try, talking with her, and gently massaging her fur when feeding her, so that she would become familiar with the smells and sounds of her new environment more quickly.

On October 8, 2023, Xiang Xiang made her official debut. Zhao recalled that at that time, when she saw many people outside, Xiang Xiang would run to the mountains in a huff, and even "packed" her favorite food with her. Now, she can graciously walk up to the glass window and feast in front of the rows of cameras.

"We are very relieved to see that after more than a year, she has grown up to be round and chubby, and is living a healthy life in China". On June 12 this year, Xiang Xiang celebrated her seventh birthday in her hometown, and a group of Japanese fans came to celebrate. "Xiang Xiang is a bridge between China and Japan, which I deeply realized on Xiang Xiang's birthday," said a Japanese tourist.

Although Xiang Xiang is now 7 years old and of childbearing age, there are no plans for her to become a mother this year. But Zhao reassures everyone that she believes Xiang Xiang will become a mom in due course. "Xiang Xiang has now adapted to the environment and breeding management mode in her hometown, and everyone can see that Xiang Xiang has gained weight, so I hope that you will come to see her more often."

Panda File

Name: Xiang Xiang, nicknamed "Princess Xiang Xiang"

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: June 12, 2017

Return date: February 21, 2023

Birthplace: Ueno Zoo, Japan

Location: Bifengxia Base of China Conservation and Research Center of Giant Panda in Ya'an

Family members:

Mother: Xiannv (Japanese name: Mama)

Father: Bili (Japanese name: Kaka)

Brother Xiao Xiao, sister Lei Lei

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