Yang Yang

Basic Profile

Yang Yang (Chinese name 阳阳) is a female giant panda born on August 10, 2000, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (Wolong Hetaoping Base). Her parents are Da Di (大地, studbook 394) and Ying Ying (英英, studbook 399). She has a brother named Liang Liang (亮亮).

Life Journey

Move to Austria (2003)

In 2002, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Vienna’s Schönbrunn Zoo signed a 10-year giant panda research cooperation agreement. In March 2003, Yang Yang and male panda Long Hui (龙徽) traveled to Austria, becoming the first giant pandas to reside in central Europe.

Breeding Success

Yang Yang and Long Hui became one of Europe’s most successful panda breeding pairs through natural mating, producing five cubs:

• Fu Long (福龙): Born August 23, 2007. He was Europe’s first giant panda conceived through natural mating in 25 years. Returned to China in 2009.
• Fu Hu (福虎): Born August 23, 2010, as one of twins (the other cub did not survive). Europe’s second naturally conceived panda. Returned to China in 2012.
• Fu Bao (福豹): Male born on August 14, 2013. Returned to China on November 7, 2015.
• Fu Ban (福伴) and Fu Feng (福凤): Twin females born on August 7, 2016. They were the world’s first naturally conceived twin pandas successfully raised entirely by their mother. Returned to China on December 4, 2018.

Later Years and Return

Long Hui passed away unexpectedly on December 9, 2016 during a medical procedure under anesthesia. On April 15, 2019, male panda Yuan Yuan (园园) arrived from China to accompany Yang Yang for a four-year research term.

Artist Panda

During her years in Austria, Yang Yang gained international attention for her ability to hold a paintbrush and create paintings. One hundred of her artworks were sold online for €490 each, with proceeds funding a conservation fund.

Return to China

On June 26, 2024, it was announced that Yang Yang and Yuan Yuan would return to China later that year. Yang Yang arrived safely in Chengdu on September 14, 2024.