Ei Mei

Basic Profile

Ei Mei (Japanese reading of 永明; Chinese name Yong Ming) was a male giant panda born on September 14, 1992, at Beijing Zoo. His mother was Yong Yong (永永, studbook 245). He was one of the most prolific giant pandas in history, siring 16 cubs and establishing the largest overseas panda lineage known as the “Ham Family” (浜家族).

Life Journey

Early Years

Born at Beijing Zoo, Ei Mei was transferred to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in May 1994 for breeding research purposes.

Move to Japan (1994)

On September 6, 1994, as part of the world’s first long-term international giant panda cooperative breeding program, Ei Mei and female panda Rong Hin (蓉浜) traveled to Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. This marked the beginning of an extraordinary 29-year chapter.

Building the Ham Family

Ei Mei became known as the “Panda Father” of Japan, breeding with two females — Mei Mei (梅梅) and later Rau Hin (良浜):

With Mei Mei (梅梅):

• Yu Hin (雄浜): Male, born December 17, 2001 — the world’s first autumn-mating, winter-birth cub in captivity
• Ryu Hin (隆浜) and Syu Hin (秋浜): Twin males born September 8, 2003 — first case of a captive mother raising twins independently
• Kou Hin (幸浜): Male, born August 23, 2005 (twin sibling did not survive)
• Ai Hin (爱浜) and Mei Hin (明浜): Female-male twins born December 23, 2006 — first winter-born twin cubs

With Rau Hin (良浜):

• Mei Hin (梅浜) and Ei Hin (永浜): Female-male twins born September 13, 2008 — first second-generation pandas born overseas
• Kai Hin (海浜) and You Hin (阳浜): Male-female twins born August 11, 2010
• Yu Hin (优浜): Female born August 10, 2012
• Sakura Hin (樱浜) and Tou Hin (桃浜): Female twins born December 2, 2014
• Yui Hin (结浜): Female born September 18, 2016 — Ei Mei was 24, making him the world’s oldest naturally breeding male panda
• Sai Hin (彩浜): Female born August 14, 2018 — smallest cub at Adventure World at 75g
• Fū Hin (枫浜): Female born November 22, 2020 — his 16th and final cub

Honors and Recognition

• July 2011: Awarded the “Prefectural Order of Merit” by Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
• December 2017: Received the 10th “Japan Animal Award” Grand Prize
• December 2022: Appointed “China-Japan Friendship Envoy” by Chinese Consul General in Osaka
• Known as Japan’s oldest and most beloved male giant panda

Return to China and Death

On February 22, 2023, at age 30, Ei Mei returned to China aboard a special flight alongside his twin daughters Ying Bin and Tao Bin. He spent his final years at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

In January 2025, Ei Mei showed reduced appetite and increased lethargy. Despite intensive veterinary care, he passed away on January 25, 2025 from multiple organ failure at the age of 32.5 — a remarkable lifespan for a giant panda.