Yuan Zai

Basic Profile

Yuan Zai (Chinese: 圆仔, “Rice Ball” or “Yuan Yuan’s Child”, studbook number 987) is a female giant panda born on July 6, 2013 at Taipei Zoo in Taiwan. She is the first giant panda ever born in Taiwan, conceived through artificial insemination after her parents failed to mate naturally.

Her father is Tuan Tuan (团团, studbook 588) and her mother is Yuan Yuan (圆圆, studbook 587). The pair were gifted to Taiwan by mainland China in December 2008 as a goodwill gesture symbolizing cross-strait relations — their names combined mean “reunion” (团圆).

Life Journey

Birth (2013)

Yuan Zai was born after several artificial insemination attempts in March 2013. She weighed 183.4 grams at birth. Shortly after birth, she was separated from her mother for intensive care after a minor leg injury. She was raised in an incubator with round-the-clock monitoring by zoo staff.

Reunion with Mother

On August 13, 2013, Yuan Zai was reunited with her mother Yuan Yuan for the first time since her birth. The emotional reunion — Yuan Yuan gently picked up her cub, licked, cradled, and breastfed her — was broadcast worldwide and became a viral sensation.

Naming

The zoo conducted a public naming contest, and on October 26, 2013, the name “Yuan Zai” was officially selected with 60% of over 75,000 votes. On the same day, she was presented with an honorary citizen’s card by the Taipei Zoo.

Public Debut

Yuan Zai made her public debut on January 6, 2014, at six months old (weighing 14 kg). Thousands lined up to see her, some arriving hours before opening. Her climbing, playing, and napping captivated visitors and media alike.

Cultural Significance

Yuan Zai’s birth was a landmark event in Taiwan, sparking widespread panda fever. Local media carried daily reports on her growth. As Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were a gift (not a loan), Taiwan was allowed to keep Yuan Zai — a rare departure from standard panda loan protocols. She became a symbol of the warming ties across the Taiwan Strait.

In 2020, Yuan Zai became a big sister when her sister Yuan Bao (圆宝) was born on June 28, 2020. The two sisters continue to live at Taipei Zoo alongside their parents.