Fu Long

Basic Profile

Fu Long (Chinese: 福龙, “Happy Dragon”, nicknamed White Sock/白袜子 and Xiao Bu Dian/小不点), studbook number 685, is a male giant panda born on August 23, 2007 at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. He was one of twins — his sibling did not survive.

His parents are Yang Yang (阳阳) and Long Hui (龙徽, studbook 526), the first pandas to live in Austria.

Historic Birth

Fu Long’s birth was a landmark event. He was the first giant panda born in Europe in 25 years through natural mating, proving that captive pandas could successfully breed outside of China without artificial intervention. His conception and birth were celebrated across Europe as a major conservation achievement.

The White Sock

Fu Long’s distinctive feature is a patch of white fur on the tip of his right hind foot, earning him the nickname “White Sock” (白袜子). The marking is unique to him and makes him instantly identifiable.

Life Journey

Naming (2007)

On December 4, 2007, a naming ceremony was held at Schönbrunn Zoo. Chinese Ambassador to Austria Wu Ken attended, and Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik officially named him “Fu Long” (福龙), meaning “Happy Dragon” or “Dragon of Good Fortune.”

Return to China (2009)

Under the Sino-Austrian agreement, Fu Long was required to return to China at age 2. On November 18, 2009, he was loaded into a transport crate at Schönbrunn, driven to Vienna Airport, and loaded onto a Boeing 747 cargo plane. He arrived in Chengdu on November 19 and was transferred to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base for a month-long quarantine.

Later Years

On March 23, 2013, Fu Long was sent to Langzhong Panda Paradise for exhibition. In 2021, he was moved to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where he currently resides.