Le Le (#637)

Basic Profile

Le Le (Chinese name: 乐乐) was a male giant panda born on July 18, 1998 at Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China. His mother was Xin Xing (新星, studbook 394), the legendary Chongqing Zoo matriarch who lived to age 38 with over 150 descendants. His father was Chuan Chuan (川川), a male panda also housed at Chongqing Zoo. His siblings include Ling Ling (灵灵), Xiao Xiao (小小), Cong Cong (聪聪), Chuan Xing (川星), and Shu Qing (蜀庆) — all from the Xin Xing bloodline.

Life Journey

Early Years in China (1998-2003)

Born into the renowned Xin Xing family at Chongqing Zoo, Le Le was transferred to Shanghai Zoo on January 26, 1999 for a temporary exhibit stay. In 2003, he was selected alongside female Ya Ya (丫丫, studbook 507) for the China-US giant panda conservation program.

Life at Memphis Zoo (2003-2023)

On April 7, 2003, Le Le and Ya Ya arrived at the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, beginning a 10-year cooperative research loan later extended to 20 years. The pair became beloved attractions, drawing millions of visitors. However, by the early 2020s, public concern grew over their condition — reports circulated of insufficient bamboo supply, poor habitat maintenance, and visible weight loss. Ya Ya’s deteriorating skin condition and Le Le’s increasingly lethargic appearance drew widespread criticism from panda advocates.

Final Months and Death

On December 21, 2022, Memphis Zoo announced that Le Le and Ya Ya would be returned to China at the end of their loan. On the morning of February 1, 2023 (US time), Le Le was found dead at age 25, weeks before his scheduled departure.

A joint Chinese-American expert team conducted a full necropsy, ruling out intestinal torsion, aortic rupture, and hepatic abscess rupture. Cardiac lesions were observed and preliminarily identified as the likely cause of death. Subsequent pathological and etiological testing of over 70 tissue samples confirmed the initial findings.

Repatriation

Le Le’s remains were repatriated to China on April 27, 2023, arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 4:26 PM after a 10-hour flight. His serum and semen samples were simultaneously transported back for research purposes. The repatriation followed the expiration of a 31-day public comment period on the US Fish and Wildlife Service export permit. His final resting place was determined by Shanghai Zoo, which oversaw quarantine and bio-safety protocols.

Legacy

Le Le’s sudden death, occurring just weeks before his scheduled return, became a pivotal moment in the public conversation about overseas panda welfare. It galvanized calls for Ya Ya’s swift return and intensified scrutiny of conditions at Memphis Zoo. His case also highlighted the importance of comprehensive end-of-life care and transparent necropsy protocols for aging pandas in foreign facilities.