Le Le

Basic Profile

Le Le (Chinese: 乐乐, meaning “Happiness/Joy”) is a male giant panda born on August 8, 2005, at the Wolong核桃坪野化培训基地 (Hetaoping Wild Training Base) of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas. He holds the global studbook number 606.

Identity & Nomenclature

• 乐乐 (Le Le): His name means “Joy” or “Happiness,” selected through a naming competition that allowed Hong Kong residents to participate, symbolizing Hong Kong’s prosperity and joy
• Studbook Number: 606
• Gender: Male
• Birth Location: Wolong Hetaoping Base, Sichuan, China
• Current Location: Ocean Park Hong Kong

The 10th Anniversary Gift

February 13, 2007: The National Forestry Bureau selected the combination of studbook #606 (Le Le) and #610 (Ying Ying) as the second pair of pandas to gift to Hong Kong.

April 20-21, 2007: The Hong Kong Civil Affairs Bureau held a naming competition for pandas 606 and 610. Hong Kong residents voted, ultimately selecting “Le Le” (乐乐) to symbolize Hong Kong’s prosperity and happiness.

July 1, 2007: Le Le and Ying Ying officially opened to the public at Ocean Park Hong Kong, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

Historical Context:

• September 12, 2007: China officially ceased the traditional “panda diplomacy” of gifting pandas to foreign zoos
• Le Le and Ying Ying represent one of the last panda gifts before this policy transition to cooperative research programs

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Family & Lineage

Father: Ling Ling (灵灵), Studbook #424

• Born August 25, 1995, at Chongqing Zoo
• Passed away September 2, 2020
• A significant breeding male at Chongqing Zoo
• His granddaughter Ke Ke (可可, born June 26, 2019) was gifted to Hong Kong in 2024, making her Le Le’s niece

Mother: Hai Zi (海子), Studbook #544

• Born 1994, wild-born panda
• One of the most prolific panda mothers at Wolong
• Currently retired at Sichuan Conservation Center

Siblings (Same Mother: Hai Zi)

Le Le has several siblings from the same mother:

• Xiang Ge (香格): Brother
• Xiang Lin (香林): Brother
• Xin Xin (鑫鑫): Sibling
• Ding Ding (丁丁): Sister, currently at Moscow Zoo, mother of Katya (喀秋莎) born in 2023
• You You (酉酉): Brother

The Pair: Ying Ying (盈盈), Studbook #610

Le Le shares his home at Ocean Park Hong Kong with Ying Ying (盈盈, studbook #610), the female panda gifted alongside him in 2007. The pair has lived together for nearly two decades, finally successfully breeding in 2024.

Offspring

Twin Cubs: Jia Jia (加加) and De De (得得)

• Born: August 15, 2024, at 2:05 AM and 3:27 AM
• Birth weight: Not publicly disclosed
• Original nicknames: “Jia Jie” (家姐/sister) and “Xi Lao” (细佬/little brother)
• Official names announced May 27, 2025: “Jia Jia” (加加) for the female, “De De” (得得) for the male
• First giant pandas born in Hong Kong
• Ying Ying became the oldest first-time panda mother on record at approximately 19 years old

Niece: Ke Ke (可可), Studbook #??

• Born June 26, 2019
• Daughter of Han Yuan (汉媛), who is also a child of Hai Zi (making Ke Le Le Le’s half-niece)
• Gifted to Hong Kong in 2024 along with An An (安安)
• Currently resides at Ocean Park Hong Kong

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Life at Ocean Park Hong Kong

Arrival and Settlement

April 26, 2007: Le Le and Ying Ying arrived at Ocean Park Hong Kong, beginning their new lives as ambassadors for the city. The pandas received a luxury habitat with premium amenities:

Habitat Features:

• High-end audio system playing recordings of natural sounds from Wolong—birdsong, flowing water, rustling leaves
• These sounds occasionally make Le Le feel as if he’s back in his Sichuan homeland
• Climate-controlled environment matching their preferred temperature range
• Customized dietary provisions including premium bamboo,窝窝头 (panda bread), and milk

Early Days: The Panda Blog

May 10, 2007: Ocean Park launched the “Panda Blog” to share updates about Le Le and Ying Ying’s life in Hong Kong. The first blog entry was written by Le Le himself, describing their “first day” in their new home:

In his blog, Le Le wrote in the casual, emoji-laden style of young people at the time, describing how they arrived at 5:30 PM and quickly explored their new enclosure. He noted that Ying Ying showed her mischievous side, climbing and exploring their new home while he was more reserved. The caretakers played recordings of flowing water and bird calls to help them adjust, and within an hour they were enjoying their first “Hong Kong-style panda meal” of bamboo, panda bread, and milk.

Learning Cantonese

The pandas were learning to understand Cantonese commands from their keepers. Despite being in a new environment with different language cues, they adapted well to their handlers’ instructions.

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Breeding Journey: 13 Years of Attempts

Early Attempts (2011-2020)

2011: Le Le and Ying Ying began attempting natural mating, but success did not come immediately. Giant pandas have notoriously low mating success rates, with females only fertile for 24-72 hours per year.

April 6, 2020: The pair successfully completed their first natural mating, generating excitement among conservationists. However, this did not result in pregnancy.

The Historic Success (2024)

March 2024: Le Le and Ying Ying successfully natural mated again during the breeding season. This time, the mating took place after years of attempts and learning.

August 15, 2024: After nearly five months of pregnancy (approximately 144 days), Ying Ying gave birth to twin cubs at 2:05 AM and 3:27 AM. The twins, a female and male, became the first giant pandas born in Hong Kong.

Significance of the Birth

• Ying Ying, at approximately 19 years old, became the oldest first-time panda mother on record
• Natural mating success is rare for giant pandas in captivity
• The birth represents a major conservation milestone for the species
• The twins’ birth was celebrated throughout Hong Kong and mainland China

Post-Birth Care

The twin cubs grew rapidly under Ying Ying’s care:

• First nursing, first eye-opening, first crawling milestones documented
• Care team (nicknamed “nanny team”) observed Ying Ying’s excellent maternal instincts
• One caretaker noted: “I feel like I’ve become a grandmother”

The twins made their public debut, attracting approximately 5,000 visitors on their first day, with thousands more watching live streams.

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Timeline of Key Events

Date	Event
August 8, 2005	Born at Wolong Hetaoping Base
February 13, 2007	Selected as gift panda for HK 10th anniversary
April 20-21, 2007	Naming competition held; “Le Le” selected
April 26, 2007	Arrived at Ocean Park Hong Kong
May 10, 2007	Panda Blog launched; Le Le writes first entry
July 1, 2007	Officially met public
2011	First mating attempts began
April 6, 2020	First successful natural mating (no pregnancy)
March 2024	Successful natural mating with Ying Ying
August 15, 2024	Twin cubs born (Jia Jia and De De)
May 27, 2025	Twin cubs officially named Jia Jia and De De
August 15, 2025	Hong Kong Post issued special stamps featuring the twins

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Cultural Significance

Conservation Ambassador

Le Le has served as a vital link between mainland China and Hong Kong for nearly two decades:

• Educational outreach to millions of visitors annually
• Promotion of giant panda conservation awareness
• Symbol of the enduring relationship between mainland China and Hong Kong

Viral Moments

Le Le’s playful behavior has made him a star on social media:

• Videos of him playing in water have gone viral
• Netizens playfully say he should “work to earn milk powder money” for his cubs
• He is often seen gracefully tolerating Ying Ying’s mischievous behavior

The New Generation

With the birth of his twins and the arrival of his niece Ke Ke, Le Le has become part of a growing panda family in Hong Kong:

• He is a father to the first “made in Hong Kong” pandas
• His extended family now spans from Hong Kong to Moscow (Ding Ding and her cub Katya)
• The family demonstrates the success of China’s panda conservation and breeding programs

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Sources & Further Reading

• Ocean Park Hong Kong official panda program records
• China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas transfer documentation
• Hong Kong Government press releases
• International Giant Panda Studbook entries
• Media coverage of the 2007 panda gift to Hong Kong
• News reports on 2024 breeding success and cub birth