Mei Mei

Basic Profile

Mei Mei (Chinese name: 梅梅, studbook number 408) was a female giant panda born on August 31, 1994 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Her mother was Su Su (苏苏, studbook 282) and her father was Yue Yue (越越, studbook 308). Her twin sister was Shu Lan (蜀兰).

Life Journey

Early Breeding in China (1994-2000)

Before moving to Japan, Mei Mei gave birth to her first cub, Qi Zhen (奇珍, studbook number unknown), on September 4, 1999, and another cub, Liang Bin (studbook 390), the following year.

Transfer to Japan (2000)

On July 7, 2000, Mei Mei was transferred to Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan as part of the China-Japan Giant Panda International Long-term Breeding Cooperation Program. She joined male panda Yong Ming (永明), who had been in Japan since 1994.

Breeding Achievements in Japan

Mei Mei became one of the most prolific breeding giant pandas in captivity, giving birth to 10 cubs, 7 of which survived:

• Liang Bin (良浜): Female, born September 6, 2000. First giant panda born in Japan through the cooperative program.
• Xiong Bin (雄浜): Male, born December 17, 2001. This was the world’s first case of a captive giant panda giving birth in winter after autumn estrus.
• Long Bin (隆浜) and Qiu Bin (秋浜): Twin males, born September 8, 2003. Mei Mei became the first giant panda mother in the world to successfully raise twin cubs simultaneously without human assistance.
• Xing Bin (幸浜): Male, born August 23, 2005 (twin, one cub did not survive).
• Ai Bin (爱浜) and Ming Bin (明浜): Female and male twins, born December 23, 2006. The first winter-born twin cubs from an autumn mating.

Mei Mei and Yong Ming founded the largest overseas giant panda family, known as the “Bin Family” (浜家族).

Death and Legacy

In January 2008, Mei Mei suffered an intestinal obstruction and was successfully treated after 10 days of intensive care. On October 4, 2008, she showed symptoms again — loss of appetite, lethargy, and no bowel movements. Despite treatment including IV fluids, gastric tube medication, and enemas, her condition deteriorated. She died on October 15, 2008 at 4:29 AM (Japan time) at age 14.

On July 24, 2011, Mei Mei was posthumously awarded the title of “Prefectural Meritorious Service” by the Wakayama Prefectural Government for her contributions to promoting Wakayama. In 2012, Adventure World unveiled a monument featuring Yong Ming, Mei Mei, and their children.