Animal

Adelaide Zoo shares update on new pandas ahead of their public debut

Adelaide Zoo has shared an update on the two new giant pandas Yi Lan and Xing Qiu ahead of their public debut.

All Images: Adelaide Zoo

The countdown is on to meet Adelaide Zoo’s newest residents, Yi Lan (pronounced ee-lun) and Xing Qiu (pronounced shing chee-y-ull). Adelaide Zoo says the two adorable giant pandas have been “settling in amazingly well to their new home at Adelaide Zoo, eating lots of bamboo, showing off their adorable personalities and getting to know their keepers.”

Zoos SA is now completing the final stages of their mandatory quarantine period. Once that’s complete, and all the necessary regulatory processes are in place, Yi Lan and Xing Qiu will be ready to meet their excited Adelaide panda-fans.

The journey for Yi Lan and Xing Qiu began on December 16th last year, when the two pandas made their long-haul flight from Dujiangyan in China all the way to Adelaide. After touching down at Adelaide Airport, they made their way across the city to their new home at the zoo. It was no small feat – these two had to adjust not only to a new home, but to a completely different season and climate here in the Southern Hemisphere.

Director of Adelaide Zoo, Dr. Phil Ainsley, said the journey went smoothly, with both pandas travelling comfortably and relaxed throughout the flight. They were accompanied by a Zoos SA veterinarian, a specialist vet and panda keeper from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas.

While they’re not quite ready to meet the public just yet (though it won’t be long now), it’s a great opportunity to get to know the new dynamic duo. Xing Qiu, the four-year-old male panda, is described by Adelaide Zoo as a handsome and lively guy with a calm, docile personality. His name, “Xing Qiu,” which means “star Autumn,” refers to the starry sky that shone brightly above when he was born.

Then there’s Yi Lan, the playful and beautiful three-year-old female panda, who lives up to her name, which means “idly blissful.” She’s as sweet as she sounds, and always full of energy and joy.

Giant Pandas once roamed southern and eastern China, Myanmar, and northern Vietnam, but today they’re mainly found in just six mountain ranges across Sichuan and Gansu provinces in China. There are currently around 1,864 pandas left in the wild, spread across a 23,000-square-kilometre area. Now, we’re lucky enough to have two right here in Adelaide!

The arrival of Yi Lan and Xing Qiu also saw the end of an era at Adelaide Zoo. On November 15th last year, the zoo bid farewell to Wang Wang and Fu Ni, two pandas who had been living at the zoo for 15 years. After a successful stay, Wang Wang and Fu Ni returned to their native China as part of ongoing conservation efforts.

For now, we’re keenly awaiting the grand opening of the new Bamboo Forest, where Yi Lan and Xing Qiu will soon be putting on a show! Adelaide Zoo promises to announce the opening date soon, and the wait is sure to be worth it. Stay tuned for updates as the countdown begins, and Yi Lan and Xing Qiu get ready to meet their new fans.

To see more of pandas Yi Lan and Xing Qiu at Adelaide Zoo, click here.

For more information, visit Adelaide Zoo’s website.

More News

To Top