Yuan Meng

Basic Profile

Yuan Meng (Chinese name: 圆梦, meaning “Dream Fulfilled”, studbook number 1088) is a male giant panda born on August 4, 2017 at ZooParc de Beauval in Saint-Aignan, France. He is the first giant panda cub ever born in France. His father is Yuan Zi (园子, studbook 736) and his mother is Huan Huan (欢欢, studbook 723), both loaned to Beauval under the Sino-French conservation agreement signed in 2012.

Life Journey

Birth of a National Sensation

Yuan Meng’s birth on August 4, 2017 was a landmark event for France. The cub weighed only 142 grams at birth — about the size of a bar of chocolate. Beauval Zoo celebrated the birth as a national achievement, with French First Lady Brigitte Macron chosen as his godmother. His name “Yuan Meng” (圆梦) was chosen through a naming contest, beating out over 27,000 proposals.

Growing Up in Beauval

Yuan Meng grew up in the public eye, with webcams tracking his every move. He became one of the zoo’s biggest attractions, drawing record numbers of visitors. In 2021, he was joined by younger twin brothers Huan Li Li and Yuan Du Du (born August 2, 2021), though he was separated from his mother and siblings as is standard weaning practice.

Return to China

Per the terms of the cooperative breeding agreement, Yuan Meng returned to China on November 26, 2025, moving to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. His departure was widely covered in French media, marking the end of an era for Beauval Zoo.

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Key Facts

• Species: Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: August 4, 2017
• Birth Place: ZooParc de Beauval, France
• Studbook Number: 1088
• Current Location: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
• Status: Alive
• Distinction: First giant panda born in France; godson of French First Lady Brigitte Macron

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