Katyusha

Basic Profile

Katyusha (Russian: Катюша, Chinese: 喀秋莎) is a female giant panda born on August 24, 2023, at Moscow Zoo — the first giant panda cub ever born in Russia. Her parents are Ding Ding (丁丁, studbook 1087) and Ru Yi (如意, studbook 1018), who arrived from China in 2019 as part of a 15-year Sino-Russian conservation cooperation program.

Birth & Early Development

Katyusha was born in the early hours of August 24, 2023, weighing just 150 grams. Key milestones:

• 1 month (Sep 24, 2023): Sex confirmed as female. “Black vest” fur pattern emerged
• ~4 months (Jan 2024): Weight 8.67 kg, body length 79.5 cm with tail. Many teeth grown, walking confidently
• 1 year (Aug 2024): Weight 38 kg
• 2 years (Aug 2025): Weight 78 kg
• Jan 2026: Weight exceeded 80 kg

Naming

On January 3, 2024, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced the results of a public online vote: the cub was named “Katyusha” (喀秋莎) — a classic Russian female name, symbolizing her Russian heritage. The name was chosen from thousands of public submissions.

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Life at Moscow Zoo

Public Debut

On March 8, 2024 (International Women’s Day), Katyusha made her first public appearance at Moscow Zoo, drawing massive crowds and media attention.

Ongoing Care

As of early 2025, Katyusha was primarily nursing on her mother’s milk while occasionally trying solid foods. By age 2, she had developed a healthy appetite and was described as active, brave, and curious.

A dedicated team of Russian and Chinese keepers monitors her development daily.

New Habitat

In January 2026, Moscow Zoo announced the construction of a new 2,000+ square meter, two-story modern enclosure for Katyusha, designed to replicate the Sichuan mountain forest environment. It will feature climbing structures, artificial pools, temperature control systems, and a toy workshop.

Future Plans

Per the Sino-Russian agreement, Katyusha is expected to return to China at approximately age 4 (around August 2027).

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Cultural Impact

Katyusha holds special significance as a symbol of Sino-Russian friendship and cooperation. Moscow Zoo Director Svetlana Akulova described her as representing peace and friendship between the two nations.

Her first and second birthday celebrations included:

• Chinese cultural activities (lantern making, calligraphy, dragon dance)
• Fan dance flash mobs
• Chinese painting and knot-tying workshops
• Panda-themed lectures and film screenings

The zoo also established an annual “Panda Week” celebrating her parents’ birthdays alongside hers. A Russian-Chinese joint expert team regularly assesses her living conditions and health.