Yang Yang (#461)

Basic Profile

Yang Yang (Chinese name: 洋洋, studbook number 461), also known by his childhood name Jiu Jiu (九九), is a male giant panda born on September 9, 1997 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China. His father is the wild-rescued giant panda Zhen Zhen (振振, studbook 306) and his mother is Ya Ya (娅娅, studbook 362), who earned fame as the “Asian Games Princess” for her role in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. Shortly after birth, he was adopted by a Dutch environmental organization and renamed “Yang Yang,” meaning “vast little ocean.”

Life Journey

Journey to America

On November 5, 1999, at just over two years old, Yang Yang traveled to the United States alongside female panda Lun Lun as part of a 10-year Sino-US cooperative research agreement. They made their public debut at Zoo Atlanta on November 20, 1999, instantly becoming the facility’s star attractions. To ensure a steady bamboo supply, local Atlanta residents volunteered to grow bamboo in their yards, while the zoo organized dedicated teams to harvest and deliver fresh bamboo daily.

Health Challenges

Shortly after arriving in the US, Yang Yang developed chronic diarrhea, a condition common among pandas in new environments. At its worst, the condition caused significant weight loss — he dropped 10 kilograms in six months. In 2000, Chengdu expert Hou Rong traveled to Atlanta and diagnosed the issue as related to temperature stress. By controlling the enclosure’s climate, Yang Yang’s appetite recovered and he regained his health. His recovery experience helped Chengdu Base eliminate new cases of “stiff cat syndrome” (僵猫症) in their own pandas.

Breeding Success

In 2004, Zoo Atlanta began attempting natural and artificial breeding for the pair, initially without success. In 2006, with expert assistance from Chengdu Base, Lun Lun was successfully artificially inseminated. Over the following decade, Yang Yang and Lun Lun produced seven cubs:

• Mei Lan (美兰, 2006) — male, later became a prolific sire at Chengdu Base
• Xi Lan (喜兰, 2008) — male
• Po / Bao Lan (宝兰, 2010) — female
• Mei Lun (美轮, 2013) — female (twin)
• Mei Huan (美奂, 2013) — female (twin)
• Ya Lun (雅伦, 2016) — female (twin)
• Xi Lun (喜伦, 2016) — female (twin)

All seven cubs were eventually repatriated to China upon reaching maturity per the cooperative agreement. Yang Yang and Lun Lun became grandparents through Mei Lan, who is the father of the famous He Hua (和花).

Return to China

In May 2024, following online concerns about Yang Yang’s health (including videos showing him foaming at the mouth and gnawing on walls), Chengdu Base issued a detailed statement confirming his health was normal. The base also announced that the repatriation process had been initiated. On October 13, 2024, Yang Yang, Lun Lun, and their twin daughters Ya Lun and Xi Lun arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport aboard a charter flight, ending 25 years abroad. After quarantine, Yang Yang began his retirement at the Chengdu Research Base.