Meet the New Giant Pandas at Adelaide Zoo – Xing Qiu and Yi Lan
Adelaide Zoo has announced that Giant Pandas, Yi Lan and Xing Qiu, will make their public debut on Tuesday 21 January 2025, so families can visit before the end of the Summer school holidays!
From 12:15pm, after an official Welcome Ceremony, Adelaide Zoo would love to see panda-fans, wildlife-lovers and conservation champions visit the Bamboo Forest to welcome Adelaide’s newest black-and-white duo.
At this stage, the Giant Pandas are still under quarantine conditions and may not have access to their outdoor habitat, but can be seen enjoying their climate-controlled day room.
Adelaide Zoo is currently working through the final stages of this process with Australian authorities and ensuring all regulatory processes are in place before the black-and-white duo can explore their external space in Bamboo Forest.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT THE ADELAIDE ZOO
Last month Giant Pandas, Yi Lan and Xing Qiu made the 15-hour journey from Dujiangyan to Adelaide, arriving at the Bamboo Forest to complete a mandatory quarantine period.
NEW PANDA NAMES
Male, Xing Qiu, (pronounced shing chee-y-ull) is described as a very handsome panda, is three years old with a docile but lively personality.
Meaning “star Autumn”, Xing Qiu’s name describes his birth season and the starry sky that was twinkling above on the night he was born.
Three-year-old female Yi Lan is described as a playful and very beautiful panda. Her name means “idly blissful”.
LEARN HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE NEW PANDA NAMES HERE
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DECEMBER 2024 UPDATE
Zoos SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted, said the arrival of new pandas will mark the next conservation chapter for Giant Pandas at Adelaide Zoo.
“We’ve been in constant communication with our Chinese counterparts to discuss the Giant Pandas that would be the best fit for Adelaide Zoo,” Elaine said.
“After careful consideration and many online discussions, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan were chosen as the pair that will make the journey to Australia.
“They are both young pandas and were chosen with not only their ability to adapt to the Adelaide environment in mind but also their suitability as a breeding pair when they are older.
“It is an honour to be entrusted with the care of such a beautiful species. Their arrival will allow us to continue to spark a love for Giant Panda conservation not only here in South Australia but around the world.”
Giant Pandas reach breeding maturity between four and seven years of age and can breed into their 20s. Female pandas ovulate only once a year in spring.
Zoos SA is working closely with the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Government and Chinese counterparts on the next steps for the pandas’ arrival including movement arrangements and regulatory processes.
“Wang Wang and Fu Ni have been a major drawcard for our state, and we are excited to welcome Xing Qiu and Yi Lan – who will continue to delight locals and visitors from across the world for many years to come,” said The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia.
After 15 years, Adelaide Zoo’s current Giant Panda pair, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, returned to China at the end of 2024.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT THE ADELAIDE ZOO
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Zoo website.
What: New Giant Pandas – Xing Qiu and Yi Lan
When: Arriving weekend of 14 December 2024 – Public debut 21 January 2025
Where: Adelaide Zoo | Frome Road, Adelaide
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: all photos by Adelaide Zoo
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