Tian Tian

Basic Profile

Tian Tian (甜甜, “sweet”), studbook number 569, is a female giant panda born on August 24, 2003 at Beijing Zoo in Beijing, China. Her father is Ying Ying (迎迎, studbook 369) and her mother is Niu Niu (妞妞, studbook 421), who was also born at Beijing Zoo in 1995.

Tian Tian gained international fame during her time in the UK, becoming the first non-human to be named one of BBC’s 100 Women in 2011, a decision that sparked widespread discussion and became known as the “Panda Gate” phenomenon in British media.

Family

Tian Tian’s mother Niu Niu (studbook 421) was born September 5, 1995 at Beijing Zoo and passed away on July 22, 2008. Her father Ying Ying (studbook 369) was born August 15, 1991 at Beijing Zoo and died on December 13, 2006.

Tian Tian has two offspring with Xi Meng (希梦):

• Bo Si (博斯, studbook 750), male, born August 7, 2009. He has been loaned to Chimelong Safari Park and now resides at the Conservation Center.
• Shen Wei (绅威, studbook 751), male, born August 7, 2009, twin of Bo Si. He was loaned to Chimelong and later to Nanjing Tangshan Ziqinghu Wildlife World.

Life Journey

Tian Tian was born at Beijing Zoo. On October 20, 2004, she was moved to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (Hetaoping Base). On March 13, 2008, she was transferred to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base.

On December 4, 2011, Tian Tian and Yang Guang departed for Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland as part of a 10-year Sino-UK conservation partnership (extended by two years due to the pandemic). They were the only giant pandas in the United Kingdom during their 12-year stay. Tian Tian became a beloved figure in Scotland, appearing on BBC’s 100 Women list in 2011.

Multiple breeding attempts — both natural and artificial insemination — were made during her time in Edinburgh, but none resulted in surviving cubs. Tian Tian did show signs of pregnancy several times, but the pregnancies did not progress to term.

On December 5, 2023, Tian Tian returned to China aboard the same flight as Yang Guang, arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. She was then transferred to the Ya’an Bifengxia Base for a month-long quarantine.