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 famous male giant panda who was born in the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., USA. He was a special part of the "panda diplomacy" program between the United States and China. This program helps countries work together by sharing these amazing animals. Bei Bei moved to China in 2019 when he was four years old. He now lives at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base, which is a big center for giant panda conservation in China. He has older siblings named Tai Shan, Bao Bao, and Xiao Qi Ji.
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How Bei Bei Was Born
Bei Bei was born on August 22, 2015, at 10:07 PM. He was born with a twin, but sadly, his twin passed away a few days later. His mother is Mei Xiang, and his father is Tian Tian. Tian Tian became his father through a special process called artificial insemination. When Bei Bei was about four years old, he weighed around 240 pounds (108 kg).
How Bei Bei Got His Name
On September 25, 2015, about five weeks after he was born, the baby panda was given his name, "Bei Bei." This special moment happened with Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan, who were the First Ladies of the United States and China at the time.
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 National Zoo liked the name Ping Ping, which means "peace." But the staff in China preferred "Bei Bei." Names that are repeated, like Bei Bei, are often chosen in Chinese because they sound sweet and small.
The First Ladies announced the name in both English and Mandarin Chinese. They even had help from third-grade students who were learning Chinese in Washington, D.C. The name "Bei Bei" means "precious" or "treasure." This is the same meaning as his older sister, Bao Bao, who was born two years earlier.
Before the naming ceremony, the zoo director, Dennis Kelly, said it was a very exciting day. He explained that it celebrated more than 40 years of successful work with giant pandas. He also said it was an honor to have the two First Ladies recognize this important work.
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Bei Bei's Big Move 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. Then, he was sent to China to join a special program that helps pandas have babies. This program is very important for increasing the number of pandas in the world.
On November 19, 2019, Bei Bei left the National Zoo. He traveled safely to China on a special plane called the FedEx Panda Express. He was with his veterinarian, Dr. Donald Neiffer, and his long-time keeper, Laurie Thompson. He landed in Chengdu, China, the next day.
After arriving, Bei Bei spent 30 days in a special quarantine area. This was to make sure he was healthy and safe before moving to the Chengdu Panda bases.
In 2021, Bei Bei became the subject of a children's book called Bei Bei Goes Home. The book, written by Cheryl Bardoe, tells the story of his journey from America to China. It also explains how his move helps with panda conservation efforts.
Bei Bei's Adult Life
Bei Bei turned 9 years old in 2024. Giant pandas usually become old enough to have babies when they are between 4 and 8 years old. It is expected that Bei Bei will become part of the breeding program. This program has helped increase the number of pandas. Some scientists hope that one day, pandas will no longer be on the endangered species list.
While the number of pandas in breeding programs is growing, some scientists point out that wild pandas still face many dangers.
See also
- List of giant pandas
- List of individual bears
