Tohui

Basic Profile

Tohui (Chinese: 多惠, studbook number 251) was a female giant panda born on July 21, 1981 at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, Mexico. Her name comes from the Tarahumara (Rarámuri) word towi, meaning “child” — the result of a national naming contest judged by the famous Mexican comedian Cantinflas. She was the daughter of Ying Ying (迎迎) and Pe Pe (贝贝), a pair of giant pandas gifted to Mexico by the Chinese government on September 10, 1975.

Historic Birth

Tohui’s birth was a global milestone. Her parents’ first cub, Xen Li, had been born in 1980 (the first live panda birth outside China) but survived only eight days. For Tohui, zoo staff installed cameras to monitor her around the clock and separated her from her mother to prevent accidental crushing. When it became clear she would survive, Mexico erupted in celebration.

President José López Portillo initially proposed naming her “Cancún,” but the public rejected the idea. A nationwide contest was held, and “Tohui” won. The name was chosen before the cub’s sex was known — towi is a gender-neutral term in Tarahumara; the feminine form would be tehuete.

Cultural Phenomenon

Tohui became a pop culture sensation in Mexico. First Lady Carmen Romano commissioned a song, “Osito Panda” (Little Panda), performed by teenage pop star Yuri. The single was a massive hit — it sold over one million copies and became one of Yuri’s signature songs. The lyrics celebrated Tohui’s birth at Chapultepec Park:

“Pequeño panda, aún no andas y ya queremos verte jugar…”

The line of visitors to see Tohui stretched all the way to the Monument to the Niños Héroes. Her presence dramatically increased the zoo’s attendance and funding, enabling Chapultepec Zoo to open its first veterinary hospital.

The Bank of Mexico minted a commemorative coin for her fifth birthday, featuring Tohui in her mother Ying Ying’s arms.

Later Years and Offspring

In 1988, the male panda Chia Chia (佳佳) arrived from London Zoo to mate with Tohui. On July 1, 1990, Tohui gave birth to a female cub, Xin Xin (欣欣, studbook 352), who survived and thrived. Xin Xin still lives at Chapultepec Zoo as of 2026, the last remaining descendant of the original Mexico pandas.

Death and Legacy

Tohui died on November 16, 1993 at the age of 12, from a leptospira crisis. Her taxidermied body was preserved and placed on permanent display at Chapultepec Zoo alongside her parents and mate.

Tohui’s legacy is profound: she proved that giant pandas could successfully reproduce and thrive in captivity outside China, laying the groundwork for all future international panda conservation breeding programs. She remains a beloved cultural icon in Mexico, remembered through songs, coins, and the ongoing presence of her daughter Xin Xin.