Ri Ri

Basic Profile

Bi Li (Chinese: 比力, studbook 612), known internationally as Ri Ri (力力, the Japanese reading of Li Li), is a male giant panda born on August 16, 2005 at the Hetaoping Wild Training Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Wolong, Sichuan. His registered Chinese name is Bi Li (比力), meaning “striving strength,” though he was originally named Li Li (力力) — a name still used in Japan.

He is a large-framed male weighing approximately 135 kg, with a gentle and laid-back personality. Keepers describe him as a calm, slow-moving panda who loves climbing trees and often holds eye contact with visitors.

Family & Lineage

Bi Li’s father is Ling Ling (灵灵, studbook 424), the renowned breeding male based at Chongqing Zoo. Ling Ling is known for siring dozens of cubs across multiple institutions, making him one of the most genetically valuable males in the captive population.

Bi Li’s mother is Gong Zhu (公主, studbook 477), a CCRCGP female who produced multiple litters. Her name means “princess,” reflecting her stately demeanor. Bi Li has numerous siblings, including Yong Ao (雅奥), Jun Zhu (郡主), Ge Ge (格格), Li Li (丽丽, his twin sister), Huan Huan (欢欢), Zhu Ling (竹灵), Zhu Hai (竹海), Yun Yun (运运), Shan Hu (山虎), Wu Wen (武雯), Xian Xian (贤贤), and Qi Qi (七七).

Mate: Shin Shin (仙女, studbook 600), known in Japan as Shin Shin (真真). They were selected as Ueno Zoo’s new breeding pair in 2011.

Offspring (all with Shin Shin):

• First cub (male, 2012-07-05 to 2012-07-11) — died of pneumonia at 6 days old
• Xiang Xiang (香香, female, sb1073, 2017-06-12) — returned to China February 2023
• Xiao Xiao (晓晓, male, sb1372, 2021-06-23) — twin, returned to China January 2026
• Lei Lei (蕾蕾, female, sb1373, 2021-06-23) — twin, returned to China January 2026

Life Journey

Early Years (2005–2008)

Bi Li spent his early years at the CCRCGP’s Wolong and Bifengxia bases in Sichuan. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake damaged Wolong’s facilities, he was temporarily relocated.

Chimelong Safari Park (2008–2010)

On March 26, 2008, Bi Li and Shin Shin were sent to Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou for a short-term exhibition. They returned to CCRCGP’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base on July 20, 2010.

Ueno Zoo (2011–2024)

On February 21, 2011, Bi Li and Shin Shin arrived at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, as a new breeding pair under a 12-year cooperative research agreement. They made their public debut on March 22, 2011, ending Ueno’s three-year panda-less period since the death of Ling Ling (陵陵) in 2008. Their arrival sparked an immediate “panda boom,” with Ueno’s annual attendance surging past 4 million.

First Cub (2012)

On July 5, 2012, Shin Shin gave birth to a male cub — Ueno’s first panda birth in 24 years. The cub died six days later from aspiration pneumonia. The loss prompted a nationwide outpouring of grief and even caused a temporary dip in Ueno-area restaurant stocks.

Xiang Xiang (2017–2023)

On June 12, 2017, Shin Shin gave birth to a healthy female cub, Xiang Xiang (香香). Bi Li and Shin Shin had successfully mated naturally, marking Ueno Zoo’s first successful natural panda mating. Xiang Xiang became a national celebrity, with a lottery system for viewing slots drawing 1 in 144 winners. She returned to China on February 21, 2023.

Twin Cubs (2021)

On June 23, 2021, Shin Shin gave birth to twins — Xiao Xiao (晓晓, male) and Lei Lei (蕾蕾, female). This was Ueno’s first panda twin birth. The cubs were named from 192,712 public submissions, with names symbolizing “dawn breaking toward a bright future.”

Return to China (2024)

By 2024, Bi Li and Shin Shin were 19 years old and showing age-related health issues, including hypertension. Chinese and Japanese veterinary teams agreed to repatriate them early for better geriatric care. On September 29, 2024, the pair departed Tokyo Narita aboard a chartered cargo flight, arriving at CCRCGP’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base for quarantine and retirement.

Legacy

Bi Li is one of the most significant male pandas in the modern international breeding program. Along with Shin Shin, he successfully revitalized Ueno Zoo’s panda program after a 24-year breeding drought. His three surviving offspring — Xiang Xiang, Xiao Xiao, and Lei Lei — represent a major contribution to the ex situ population’s genetic diversity. The arrival of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in China in January 2026 marked the first time Japan had been without a panda since 1972.

His gentle, camera-loving personality made him a fan favorite in Japan, where he was beloved for his photogenic poses and calm demeanor.