Bei Bei facts for kids
Bei Bei in November 2017.
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| Species | Giant panda |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | August 22, 2015 National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. United States |
| Residence | Bifengxia Panda Base, Ya'an, China |
| Parent(s) | Mei Xiang, Tian Tian |
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) (as of November 21, 2019) |
| Named after | Treasure |
Bei Bei (/beɪ beɪ/ bay-_-bay; Chinese: t 貝貝, s 贝贝, p Bèibèi) is a male giant panda bear. He was born at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Bei Bei was part of a special program where pandas are shared between the US and China. This is sometimes called "panda diplomacy."
He moved to the People's Republic of China on November 19, 2019, when he was 4 years old. Today, Bei Bei lives at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. This base is part of the Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center in southwest Sichuan province. He has three siblings: Tai Shan, Bao Bao, and Xiao Qi Ji.
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Birth and Early Life
Bei Bei was born on August 22, 2015, at 10:07 pm. He actually had a twin, who was born earlier that day at 5:35 pm. Sadly, his twin passed away four days later from a lung infection called pneumonia.
Bei Bei's mother is a panda named Mei Xiang. His father is Tian Tian, another panda at the National Zoo. Bei Bei was conceived through artificial insemination. This is a special way to help animals have babies when natural breeding is difficult. By November 21, 2019, Bei Bei weighed about 240 pounds (108 kg).
How Bei Bei Got His Name
On September 25, 2015, about five weeks after he was born, the baby panda received his name. He was named "Bei Bei" by Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan. They were the first ladies of the United States and the People's Republic of China.
The name "Bei Bei" was chosen from a list of ideas. These ideas came from experts at the National Zoo and the Wolong National Nature Reserve in China. The name "Bei Bei" means "precious" or "treasure" in Chinese. It is a special kind of name often used for cute or small things. His older sister, Bao Bao, also has a name that means "treasure."
The first ladies announced the name in both English and Mandarin. They had help from third-grade students from a Chinese-immersion school in Washington, D.C. The zoo director, Dennis Kelly, said it was an honor to have the first ladies help. He also mentioned that the naming celebrated many years of successful giant panda research.
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Bei Bei's Journey to China
Bei Bei was first shown to the public on January 16, 2016. He lived at the National Zoo in America for three and a half years. After that, he was sent to China to join a special breeding program. This program helps increase the number of pandas in the world.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, Bei Bei left the National Zoo. He traveled on a special plane called the FedEx Panda Express. His veterinarian, Dr. Donald Neiffer, and his long-time keeper, Laurie Thompson, went with him. He landed in Chengdu, China, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
When he arrived, Bei Bei spent 30 days in a special quarantine area. This was to make sure he was healthy and safe. After that, he moved to the Chengdu Panda bases.
In 2021, Bei Bei became the main character in a children's book. The book is called Bei Bei Goes Home. It was written by Cheryl Bardoe. The story talks about his journey from America to China. It also explains how his move helps with panda conservation efforts.
Adult Life and Reproduction
Bei Bei turned 9 years old in 2024. Giant pandas usually become old enough to have cubs when they are between 4 and 8 years old. Bei Bei is now part of a breeding program. These programs have helped increase the number of pandas. This has even led to pandas being removed from the endangered species list.
However, some scientists believe that even though more pandas are born in these programs, wild pandas still face many dangers. These dangers include losing their homes and food sources.
See also
- List of giant pandas
- List of individual bears
