Long Sheng

Basic Profile

Long Sheng (Chinese: 龙昇, studbook number 518), also known as Mao Mao (卯卯), was a male giant panda born on August 22, 2000 (some sources cite August 21) at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) Hetaoping Base in Wolong, Sichuan — a birth year coinciding with the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

Weighing approximately 200 kg, Long Sheng was described by keepers as a handsome, robust, and well-groomed panda with a gentle and lively temperament. His striking appearance earned him the affectionate nicknames “Panda Handsome Guy” (熊猫帅哥) and “Heartthrob” (万人迷) among keepers and fans.

His father is Da Di (大地, studbook 394) and his mother is Yue Yue (月月, studbook 404). His maternal grandmother was Jia Jia (佳佳, studbook 222), the famous Hong Kong-donated panda, and he was a great-grandson of the legendary Asian Games panda Pan Pan (盼盼).

Life Journey

Early Years at Wolong and Bifengxia (2000–2007)

Long Sheng was born in the Dragon Year — a fitting start for a panda who would travel far. He spent his first three years at Wolong Hetaoping Base before moving to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base on September 21, 2003, where he grew into a strong young adult.

Guangzhou Zoo (2007–2013)

On July 27, 2007, Long Sheng was loaned to Guangzhou Zoo, where he quickly became a crowd favorite. On August 21, 2010, the zoo celebrated his 10th birthday with a cake and a basketball — a treat for the playful giant.

Zhengzhou Zoo and the 2014 Controversy (2013–2014)

In March 2013, when the female panda Wen Yu (文雨) was recalled to Sichuan for breeding season, Long Sheng was sent as her replacement to Zhengzhou Zoo in Henan Province.

In February 2014, tragedy struck when another panda at the zoo, Jin Yi (锦意), died under controversial circumstances. An investigation by the National Forestry Bureau found the zoo’s temporary panda enclosure unsanitary and unfit for pandas, with disease transmission risks. Long Sheng, who shared the facility, was observed by journalists sitting among bamboo leaves, sometimes climbing onto high railings and staying still. His enclosure had piles of feces left un cleaned, though his physical condition and spirit remained good.

The zoo was formally warned, panda exhibition activities were suspended, and Long Sheng was recalled by CCRCGP on March 20, 2014, arriving at the Dujiangyan Base for quarantine. The keeper who accompanied him noted that he remained in good health despite the ordeal.

Yancheng Dafeng Port: A New Name (2014–2019)

On August 18, 2014, Long Sheng was loaned again — this time to Yancheng Dafeng Port Panda Paradise in Jiangsu. Upon arrival, he was renamed Mao Mao (卯卯), paired with companion You You (酉酉, formerly Qing Feng). Together, “卯酉” formed a traditional Chinese timekeeping pair symbolizing harmony. The renaming ceremony tied the pandas to the local Er Mao You River geography.

He celebrated his first birthday in Yancheng under his new name, and the local community embraced him as a mascot.

Return to Dujiangyan (2019–2020)

On December 3, 2019, Long Sheng returned briefly to the CCRCGP Dujiangyan Base.

Fenghuang China Panda Garden (2020–2025)

On May 30, 2020, Long Sheng was transferred to the Fenghuang China Panda Garden (凤凰中华大熊猫苑) in Hunan Province, alongside seven other pandas. On August 21, 2020, the park celebrated his 20th birthday with a specially crafted food cake.

Return to CCRCGP (2025)

On July 18, 2025, Long Sheng returned to the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, completing a remarkable quarter-century journey across six zoos and facilities over four provinces.

Final Illness and Passing (2026)

On June 18, 2026, at 20:16, Long Sheng died at approximately 26 years of age from diffuse pelvic-abdominal tumors and multi-organ failure.

Through mid-May 2026 his appetite, spirits, and feeding had remained stable and normal. In late May his chronic toothache returned, accompanied by declining spirits and appetite; he later developed abdominal distension, and a B-ultrasound revealed large amounts of ascites and an occupying lesion in the abdomen. On June 12, an anesthesia examination confirmed multiple occupying lesions in the abdominal cavity. Despite treatment — including abdominal drainage of ascites by the veterinary team — his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away on June 18.

Keepers had cared for him closely during his decline. Observing that three penetrating molars made him eat slowly and drool, they adjusted his feed and provided protein supplements and modified formula milk. Noting his increased sleepiness and tendency to hold a single sleeping posture, keepers periodically called to him, spoke with him, and used stroking and massage to help him change position and prevent bedsores.

Both his current keepers and Li Yan (李艳), a keeper from his time at the Fenghuang China Panda Garden, publicly shared remembrances and farewells.

Personality

Weighing ~200 kg with a clean, robust build, Long Sheng was known for his gentle and lively temperament. Keepers described him as a well-behaved and easy keeper despite the many relocations throughout his life. His handsome looks and calm demeanor made him beloved at every facility he called home.

Timeline