Fu Ni

Basic Profile

Fu Ni (福妮, “blessed girl”), studbook number 638, is a female giant panda born on August 23, 2006 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (Hetaoping Base) in Sichuan, China. Her father is Lu Lu (芦芦, studbook 503) and her mother is Long Xin (龙欣, studbook 516), one of the most prolific mothers in the captive panda population.

Fu Ni was described as an active and playful panda who enjoyed climbing trees and playing in water. In 2008, she was selected as one of the “Olympic Pandas” sent to Beijing to support the Olympic Games.

Family

Fu Ni’s mother Long Xin (studbook 516) is a highly prolific female with many offspring. Fu Ni’s siblings include Xi Wang (希望, studbook 607) and Le Bao (乐宝, studbook 841, also known as Yuan Xin). Her full younger brother Fu Wa (福娃) was sent to Malaysia under a conservation partnership.

Life Journey

After the Sino-Australian agreement was signed on September 7, 2007, Fu Ni was selected alongside Wang Wang for the Adelaide Zoo cooperation program. On October 21, 2009, she entered pre-departure quarantine at Ya’an Bifengxia Base. She and Wang Wang departed for Australia on November 27, 2009, arriving in Adelaide on November 28, 2009.

During her 15 years in Australia, Fu Ni underwent five artificial insemination attempts, none of which resulted in a successful pregnancy. In February 2023, she showed signs of pregnancy but no cub was born.

On November 15, 2024, Fu Ni returned to China alongside Wang Wang. After arrival, she was transported to the Wolong Shenshuping Base for a month-long quarantine. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Fu Ni during his trip to China that November, calling her an “ambassador of friendship” between the two nations.