Lumi

Basic Profile

Lumi (Finnish for “snow”), Chinese name Jin Baobao (金宝宝), studbook number 1073, is a female giant panda born on September 20, 2014 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (Dujiangyan Panda Center) in Sichuan, China.

Her father is Lu Lu (芦芦), a wild-born male famous for siring over 50 offspring, and her mother is Xi Mei (喜妹), a captive-bred female from Wolong.

Journey to Finland

The loan of a giant panda pair to Finland was agreed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Finland in 2017. Lumi (then known as Jin Baobao) and Pyry (then Hua Bao) were selected for the 15-year conservation program at Ahtari Zoo.

On January 18, 2018, Lumi and Pyry flew from Chengdu to Helsinki aboard a DHL cargo plane, accompanied by a Finnish keeper, a Finnish veterinarian, and a Chinese keeper and veterinarian. They arrived at Helsinki Airport and were transported to Ahtari Zoo, where they underwent a month of quarantine.

Their public debut was on February 17, 2018, where they were officially given their Finnish names — Lumi (snow) and Pyry (snowfall) — reflecting Finland’s snowy winter landscape.

Life at Ahtari

Lumi and Pyry reside at the Panda House (Pandatalo), a specially designed enclosure at Ahtari Zoo with temperature control to simulate Sichuan’s climate. The zoo has cultivated several bamboo species on-site to ensure a fresh supply year-round.

Ahtari’s keepers describe Lumi as the more playful and feminine of the pair, while Pyry is more straightforward and food-driven. Unlike other bear species, pandas do not hibernate, and Lumi enjoys the Finnish winter — she plays more actively in the snow than during summer heat. Her daily routine begins around 8 AM and follows her own rhythm, with bamboo comprising the vast majority of her diet.

Impact

Lumi and Pyry are the only giant pandas in the Nordic countries and have become major attractions for Ahtari Zoo, drawing visitors from across Finland and neighboring European countries. Their presence represents the strong conservation partnership between China and Finland, and they serve as flagship ambassadors for their species in Northern Europe.