Ga Ga

Basic Profile

Ga Ga (Chinese: 加加), widely known by her Cantonese nickname “Jia Jie” (家姐 / Big Sister), is a female giant panda born on August 15, 2024, at Ocean Park Hong Kong. She is one half of the first pair of giant panda twins ever born in Hong Kong — a historic milestone for the city’s conservation efforts.

Names

• 家姐 (Jia Jie): Her Cantonese nickname meaning “big sister,” given by Hong Kong residents and media before her official naming
• 加加 (Ga Ga): Official name announced May 27, 2025. The name means “cheering on” (from 加油打气), symbolizing encouragement. In both Cantonese and Mandarin, it shares sounds with 家 (family) and 嘉 (praiseworthy), signifying family happiness and national prosperity
• “Big Sister”: English nickname, as she is the older twin

Birth & Early Development

Ga Ga was born at 2:05 AM on August 15, 2024, weighing just 122 grams — roughly the size of a stick of butter. Her brother De De followed at 3:27 AM. Their mother Ying Ying, at approximately 19 years old, became the oldest first-time giant panda mother on record.

Her early development milestones:

• Birth weight: 122 grams
• ~6 months (Feb 2025): ~11 kg — a 90x weight increase
• ~9 months (May 2025): >21 kg — began mimicking mother Ying Ying’s bamboo chewing behavior, though not yet successfully eating
• Diet: Primarily mother’s milk and formula provided by the care team

Family & Lineage

Parents

Father: Le Le (乐乐), Studbook #606

• Born August 8, 2005, at Wolong Hetaoping Base
• Arrived at Ocean Park Hong Kong on April 26, 2007, as a 10th anniversary gift to Hong Kong
• Successfully natural mated with Ying Ying in March 2024 after 13 years of attempts

Mother: Ying Ying (盈盈), Studbook #610

• Gifted alongside Le Le to Hong Kong in 2007
• At approximately 19 years old, became the oldest first-time panda mother on record
• Displayed excellent maternal instincts, carefully caring for both twins with support from the Ocean Park care team

Sibling

• De De (得得): Twin brother, born 81 minutes after Ga Ga. His name means “to gain” (得), paired with Ga Ga’s “加” (to add), forming the phrase 加加得得 — “add and gain,” symbolizing continuous growth and blessings

Extended Family

• Paternal grandfather: Ling Ling (灵灵, studbook #424)
• Paternal grandmother: Hai Zi (海子, studbook #544)
• Paternal half-aunt: Ding Ding (丁丁), at Moscow Zoo, mother of a cub born in 2023

Life at Ocean Park Hong Kong

First Months

Ga Ga spent her first months in Ocean Park’s behind-the-scenes nursing area, receiving round-the-clock care from the park’s veterinary and keeper team. Her mother Ying Ying demonstrated attentive maternal behavior, allowing the care team to conduct regular health checks.

100-Day Celebration (November 23, 2024)

Ocean Park held a traditional Chinese 100-day celebration for the twins — a significant milestone in Chinese culture. The event attracted widespread media attention across Hong Kong and mainland China.

Public Debut (February 2025)

On February 15, 2025 — their half-birthday — Ocean Park held a naming competition launch ceremony. The twins made their first public appearance the following day on February 16, drawing large crowds eager to see Hong Kong’s first home-grown pandas.

Naming Competition

From February 15 to March 7, 2025, Ocean Park invited Hong Kong residents to submit name suggestions. The competition received over 35,700 entries, reflecting the public’s deep affection for the twin cubs. On May 27, 2025, the park announced the official names: “Ga Ga” (加加) for the female and “De De” (得得) for the male.

Expanded Habitat (May 2025)

On May 27, 2025, Ga Ga, her brother De De, and mother Ying Ying moved to an expanded habitat in the “Giant Panda Adventure” exhibition area at Ocean Park. The new space features climbing structures, enrichment items, and a highland area designed to stimulate the cubs’ physical and cognitive development.

Personality & Character

Curious Explorer

Park keepers describe Ga Ga as a naturally curious and independent cub. She enjoys:

• Climbing trees and wooden structures in her habitat
• Exploring every corner of her enclosure
• Spending time alone investigating enrichment items

Growing Independence

As she matured, Ga Ga began spending more time away from her mother, exploring independently while staying within visual range. This behavior aligns with normal developmental patterns for giant panda cubs.

Learning to Eat Bamboo

By May 2025, at approximately 9 months old, Ga Ga was observed mimicking her mother’s bamboo-eating behavior — picking up bamboo stalks and attempting to bite them, though not yet consuming them successfully. This represents a normal developmental milestone as cubs transition from milk to a bamboo-based diet.

Timeline of Notable Events

2024

• August 15: Born at Ocean Park Hong Kong at 2:05 AM, weighing 122 grams
• November 23: 100-day celebration at Ocean Park

2025

• February 15: Half-birthday celebration; naming competition launched; weight ~11 kg
• February 16: First public appearance
• March 7: Naming competition closed with over 35,700 entries
• March 21: Public appearance with mother Ying Ying
• May 22: New habitat opened
• May 27: Official name “加加” (Ga Ga) announced; moved to expanded habitat with mother and brother; weight >21 kg

Cultural Significance

First “Hong Kong-Made” Pandas

Ga Ga and her brother represent a historic milestone — the first giant pandas born in Hong Kong. Their birth was celebrated across the city as a symbol of hope and conservation success.

Public Engagement

The twins generated unprecedented public interest in giant panda conservation in Hong Kong:

• Ocean Park launched a dedicated panda livestream
• Special merchandise and adoption programs were created
• The naming competition engaged the entire city
• Hong Kong Post issued special stamps featuring the twins on August 15, 2025

Conservation Impact

As ambassadors for their species, Ga Ga and De De help:

• Raise awareness about giant panda conservation challenges
• Educate the public about captive breeding programs
• Support Ocean Park’s conservation funding initiatives
• Inspire a new generation of conservationists in Hong Kong

Sources & Further Reading

• Ocean Park Hong Kong official announcements (2024-2025)
• Hong Kong Government press releases
• Media coverage of the 2024 twin panda birth (Xinhua, SCMP, local Hong Kong media)
• Ocean Park naming competition results (May 27, 2025)
• Hong Kong Post stamp release (August 15, 2025)