Yu Ai

Basic Profile

Yu Ai (Chinese: 渝爱, “Chongqing Love”), studbook number 1285, is a female giant panda born on July 22, 2022 at Chongqing Zoo, weighing only 91 grams at birth. Her mother is Er Shun (二顺, studbook 883) — the female panda who lived in Canada from 2013 to 2022 — and her father is Qing Qing (青青).

Her twin brother is Yu Ke (渝可), and her half-siblings through mother Er Shun include Jia Pan Pan (加盼盼) and Jia Yue Yue (加悦悦) — the twin cubs born at Toronto Zoo in 2015.

Naming

In early 2023, Chongqing Zoo launched a public naming contest for the twin cubs, receiving nearly 600 name pair entries. After online voting, the pair was officially named “Yu Ke” (渝可) and “Yu Ai” (渝爱) — “Yu” representing Chongqing’s abbreviation.

Adoption

On August 3, 2023, Yu Ai and Yu Ke were lifelong adopted by Midea Group (美的集团).

The Toy Incident (2023)

On October 1, 2023, Yu Ai was playing with an enrichment toy when she managed to get her head stuck inside it. Panicked, she began making loud barking noises. Keepers rushed to help, eventually freeing her. The video went viral — not because she was in danger, but because of her dramatic reaction: she “screamed” at her keepers as if scolding them for the indignity.

Water Conservation Ambassador (2024)

On May 11, 2024, Yu Ai and Yu Ke were appointed as Chongqing City Water Conservation Ambassadors, with their cartoon images displayed on city landmarks. In June 2024, they also became “Welcome Ambassadors” for the Belt and Road International Skills Competition.

Health : The Skin Condition (2024–2025)

In August 2024, keepers noticed hair loss around Yu Ai’s left eye and nose bridge. Specialists from the Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were called in, diagnosing infectious hair loss. Over the following months, the condition proved stubborn despite multiple treatment adjustments.

On May 24, 2025, the zoo moved Yu Ai to a non-public area for intensive treatment. She remained out of public view for over 100 days. On October 19, 2025, she was declared recovered and returned to public exhibit — all indicators normal.