Pandas coming home | From 'naughty boy' to 'little princess': Panda Fan Xing enjoys happy life in Sichuan after returning from Netherlands
The China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda recently released a video on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. In the video, the giant panda Fan Xing who came back from the Netherlands was enjoying an undisturbed afternoon time.
As the first giant panda born in the Netherlands, Fan Xing marked history and brought many surprises. On May 5, 2020, Fan Xing was born at Ouwehands Zoo. She was the first baby of the panda Wu Wen and Xing Ya. In the widely-watched online name-collecting ballot, the name "Fan Xing" stood out-- "Fan" represents the birthplace Netherlands, and the character also denotes luxuriant vitality; the character "Xing" ("star" in Chinese) is taken from his father panda Xing Ya, with a connotation of "The Starry Night" by Van Gogh.
On Sept. 27, 2023, Fan Xing, over three years old, embarked on the journey to her home country and then lived in the Ya'an panda base of the research center. Under the meticulous care of panda keepers, Fan Xing gradually acclimatized to the new environment and was moved to the visitor area by the end of April 2024.
Interestingly, Fan Xing's gender was once mistaken: when she was just born, the zoo keepers thought she was too naughty to be a female panda. It was not until the end of 2022, when Fan Xing underwent a physical examination before returning to China, that people discovered she was female. Experts state that among a large number of large mammals, the gender of giant pandas is the most difficult to determine. Preliminary judgments can be made based on characteristics such as body size, skull shape, fur patterns, and behavior, but these methods are not absolutely reliable, especially for younger pandas. The accurate identification of the gender of a giant panda requires professional observation and diagnosis. The most scientific method is to identify the gender through the examination of the genitalia during the physical examination, and DNA testing is even more rigorous.
Currently, Fan Xing has gradually grown into an elegant "princess" as she ages. She has a particular fondness for apples and wowotous (steamed cornbread), and she loves the artificial hill in the garden. She often lazily sprawls on the artificial hill to enjoy a long and comfortable nap after a hearty meal. In July 2024, her mother Wu Wen gave birth to another panda cub in the Netherlands, making Fan Xing a "big sister." Nowadays, Fan Xing not only enjoys a happy life but also bridges the friendship between the people of China and the Netherlands.
Panda Profile of Returned Overseas Panda
- Name: Fan Xing
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: May 1, 2020
- Return Date to China: Sept. 27, 2023
- Place of Birth: Ouwehands Zoo
- Current Residence: Ya'an panda base of China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda
- Family Member: Mother Wu Wen, Father Xing Ya, Sister/Brother Lang Yue (undetermined gender)
Related News:
Pandas coming home | Twin brothers, opposite styles: Walking into journeys of Meng Xiang & Meng Yuan
Comment