Le Le

Basic Profile

Le Le (Chinese: 叻叻) is a male giant panda born on August 14, 2021, at River Wonders (formerly River Safari) in Singapore — the first giant panda ever born in Singapore.

His father is Kai Kai (凯凯/武杰, studbook 717) and his mother is Jia Jia (嘉嘉/沪宝, studbook 734). After seven breeding attempts, Jia Jia gave birth to Le Le via artificial insemination.

Naming

On December 29, 2021, Le Le’s name was announced through a public vote. The name “叻叻” was chosen from over 37,000 public suggestions. The character “叻” (Le) comes from Singapore’s historical Chinese name “Shi Le” (石叻). It is also a homophone for “乐” (happiness) and in Cantonese, “叻仔” means “clever and capable.”

Growth Milestones

• Birth (Aug 14, 2021): 200 grams, pink skin
• 3 weeks: Fur became visibly black and white
• 5 weeks: 1,504 grams
• 138 days (Dec 29, 2021): ~9.5 kg, 79 cm long, 24 teeth
• ~7 months (Mar 2022): 15.86 kg
• 1 year (Aug 2022): >33 kg — celebrated with a three-tier ice cake
• 2 years 5 months (Jan 2024): ~70 kg — returned to China

Life in Singapore

Public Debut

On December 30, 2021, Le Le made his first public appearance at the River Wonders panda exhibit, drawing large crowds eager to see Singapore’s first home-grown panda.

Development

In June 2022, Le Le began eating solid foods like pellets and carrots and attending “panda kindergarten” for behavioral training. He was described as active, playful, and mischievous.

Farewell

On December 13, 2023, River Wonders held a farewell ceremony for Le Le. Over a thousand Singaporeans gathered to say goodbye. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore, Mandai Wildlife Group, and the China National Centre for the Performing Arts jointly hosted a “Friendship Forever, Joy with Le Le” music event.

Return to China

Journey Home

On January 16, 2024, Le Le departed Singapore aboard a Singapore Airlines cargo flight at 7:15 PM, arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport that same evening. He underwent a month-long quarantine at the Huaying Mountain Panda Base in Guang’an, Sichuan.

New Home

In February 2024, Le Le moved to the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas. In March 2024, a Singapore delegation visited him at Dujiangyan to check on his adaptation. He continues to reside there, described as active and thriving in his new environment.

Cultural Significance

As the first giant panda born in Singapore, Le Le served as a “panda ambassador” strengthening Sino-Singapore relations. His birth was the result of a 10-year cooperation agreement between China and Singapore, signed in 2009 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. His successful birth and growth demonstrated the expertise of both countries in panda conservation.