Ying Ying

Basic Profile

Ying Ying (Chinese: 迎迎) was a male giant panda born on August 15, 1991, at Beijing Zoo, one of China’s oldest and most prestigious zoological institutions. He held the global studbook number 369 and played an important role in Beijing Zoo’s captive breeding program during his reproductive years.

Identity & Nomenclature

• 迎迎 (Ying Ying): His name, chosen to welcome new generations in the breeding program
• Studbook Number: 369
• Gender: Male
• Birth Location: Beijing Zoo, China
• Lifespan: August 15, 1991 – December 13, 2006 (15 years)

Significance in Captive Breeding

Ying Ying held special importance in China’s panda conservation history:

• Second natural mating male at Beijing Zoo, following Liang Liang (良良)
• Contributed to maintaining genetic diversity in the captive population
• His offspring helped strengthen breeding programs at multiple institutions

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Family & Lineage

Parents

Father: Wan Wan (弯弯), Studbook #191

• A Qinling giant panda
• Transmitted valuable genetic traits to his offspring
• Qinling pandas are known for their distinct brownish coloring and genetic uniqueness

Mother: Yong Yong (永永), Studbook #245

• Discovered in Baoxing County, Sichuan
• One of Beijing Zoo’s foundational breeding females
• Produced multiple generations of offspring including Ying Ying

Offspring

Ying Ying fathered five known offspring:

1. Ya Ya (丫丫), Studbook #507 (born August 3, 2000)

   • Mother: Le Le (乐乐, studbook 320)
   • Most famous offspring, spent 20 years at Memphis Zoo in the U.S.
   • Returned to China in 2023, currently residing at Beijing Zoo

2. Tian Tian (甜甜), Studbook #569 (born August 24, 2003)

   • Mother: Niu Niu (妞妞)
   • Transferred to Wolong in 2004 as part of the exchange program
   • Currently at Wolong or another conservation center

3. Xi Wang (希望), Studbook #607 (born August 11, 2005)

   • Mother: Long Xin (龙欣)
   • Male offspring continuing the breeding line

4. Cui Cui (翠翠), Studbook #643

   • Female offspring
   • Contributed to the breeding program

5. Qian Qian (芊芊), Studbook #650 (born September 11, 2006)

   • Mother: You You (优优)
   • Youngest recorded offspring, born shortly before Ying Ying’s death

Siblings

• Yong Ming (永明): Younger brother
• Yuan Yuan (园园): Younger brother, studbook #488, born 1999
• Niu Niu (妞妞): Younger sister
• Ji Ni (吉妮): Younger sister

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Historical Role: Second Natural Mating Male

Background: Liang Liang’s Legacy

Liang Liang (良良), born in 1978, was the first male panda at Beijing Zoo capable of natural mating. His success paved the way for developing captive breeding protocols at the zoo. When Ying Ying reached sexual maturity in the mid-1990s, he became the second male in the program capable of natural reproduction, ensuring continuity in the breeding efforts.

Reproductive Contributions (1996-2006)

Starting from 1996, Ying Ying participated in natural mating sessions annually with confirmed offspring resulting each year through 2006. His breeding record included:

• Natural mating with multiple females
• Successful conception and birth of viable offspring
• Contribution to maintaining genetic diversity in the Beijing Zoo panda population

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Transfer to Wolong (2004)

The First Domestic Panda Exchange Program

In 2004, China’s National Forestry Bureau convened a giant panda management conference to address maintaining genetic diversity in captive populations. The solution: exchange pandas between institutions to prevent inbreeding.

October 20, 2004: Ying Ying, along with Yuan Yuan (园园, #488) and Tian Tian (甜甜, #569), departed Beijing for Chengdu. This was the first domestic exchange of giant pandas between Beijing Zoo and the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Wolong.

The Exchange Agreement:

• Ying Ying and Yuan Yuan would live at Wolong for 15 years
• Beijing Zoo received Da Di (大地) and Gu Gu (古古) from Wolong in return
• Tian Tian’s exchange was for 25 years (later reduced to match the 15-year term)

The Journey

The transfer process proved challenging:

• Ying Ying was reluctant to leave his familiar enclosure
• He refused favorite treats and had to be coaxed with water (his fear)
• Yuan Yuan was successfully tricked into his transport crate with treats
• Tian Tian, being young and naive, was easily carried into her crate

The three pandas traveled on a truck decorated with the banner “我们去卧龙安家” (We’re going to make our home in Wolong), arriving at their new base by October 22, 2004.

October 23, 2004: Da Di and Gu Gu arrived at Beijing Zoo, completing the exchange.

Purpose of the Transfer

The exchange served multiple goals:

1. Genetic diversity: Prevent inbreeding by introducing new individuals to each population
2. Breeding opportunities: Allow Ying Ying to mate with Wolong-area females
3. Conservation research: Support the wild training and rehabilitation programs at Hetaoping

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Life at Wolong Hetaoping Base

New Environment Challenges

Arriving at the核桃坪野化培训基地 (Hetaoping Wild Training Base), Ying Ying faced:

• Different climate and elevation than Beijing
• New bamboo sources and dietary variations
• Social reorganization with unfamiliar pandas

Despite these challenges, he adapted reasonably well, continuing his participation in breeding programs during subsequent mating seasons.

Continued Breeding Activity

During his remaining years at Wolong (2004-2006), Ying Ying:

• Participated in natural mating attempts
• Fathered at least one more offspring (Qian Qian, born September 2006)
• Contributed to the center’s breeding objectives

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Final Days and Passing

Decline in Health

By late 2006, Ying Ying showed signs of age-related health issues common to captive pandas. His condition deteriorated despite the care provided by Wolong’s veterinary team.

Death at Dujiangyan Base

December 13, 2006: Ying Ying passed away at the四川卧龙都江堰基地 (Sichuan Wolong Dujiangyan Base), at approximately 15 years of age. This was considered a natural lifespan for a captive giant panda, though shorter than some individuals who lived into their 20s.

His death marked the end of an important breeding career, but his genetic legacy continued through his surviving offspring, particularly Ya Ya who would later gain international fame.

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Legacy

Genetic Contributions

Ying Ying’s breeding record demonstrated the importance of:

• Maintaining multiple capable males in captive programs
• Strategic exchanges between institutions to refresh gene pools
• Natural mating as a complement to artificial insemination

Notable Descendants

His most celebrated offspring, Ya Ya (丫丫), carried his genetic legacy internationally:

• Born at Beijing Zoo in 2000
• Spent 20 years at Memphis Zoo (2003-2023)
• Returned to China after health concerns prompted international attention
• Now thriving at Beijing Zoo at 25+ years old

Other offspring contributed to breeding programs at Wolong and other centers, maintaining the genetic line established by Ying Ying.

Historical Significance

As the second natural mating male at Beijing Zoo following Liang Liang, Ying Ying helped:

• Consolidate Beijing Zoo’s role in captive breeding
• Develop protocols for panda exchange between institutions
• Demonstrate the value of genetic diversity in captive populations

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Sources & Further Reading

• Beijing Zoo official breeding records (1991-2006)
• China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas transfer documentation (2004)
• International Giant Panda Studbook entries
• Chinese panda conservation research publications on breeding programs
• Media coverage of the 2004 domestic panda exchange program