Xiao Ya

Basic Profile

Xiao Ya (Chinese: 小丫, “Little Girl”), studbook number 940, was a female giant panda born on September 15, 2014 at the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Research Center. Her mother was Ya Lao Da (娅老大) and her siblings included Le Le (乐乐, studbook 715) and Zhi Zhi (芝芝).

The Bun-Eared Panda

Xiao Ya became an internet sensation for a simple reason: she had two perfectly fluffy “buns” (丸子头) of fur on her head, giving her a permanently cute, slightly disheveled appearance. Photos of her “bun ears” were widely shared on Chinese social media.

Life and Death

On December 18, 2018, Xiao Ya was moved to Foping Panda Valley in the Qinling Mountains, where she lived until her death.

She died on June 12, 2022 from uremia (尿毒症) at approximately 8 years old. Despite veterinary care, her condition was not publicly disclosed at the time. In April 2023, concerned netizens asked about her, and the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau confirmed her death, stating that all proper procedures had been followed during her treatment.