Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan
| Other names | Pit and Paule |
|---|---|
| Species | Giant panda |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 31 August 2019 Berlin Zoo, Germany |
| Parents |
|
Meng Xiang (Chinese: 梦想; pinyin: Mèngxiǎng; lit. 'Long-awaited dream', nicknamed Pit) and Meng Yuan (Chinese: 梦圆; pinyin: Mèng yuán; lit. 'Fulfilled dream', nicknamed Paule) are two twin male giant pandas born on 31 August 2019 at the Berlin Zoo, making them the first giant pandas born in Germany. Their father Jiao Qing and mother Meng Meng were both from Sichuan, and arrived in Berlin for 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany in 2017.
In December 2023, the two pandas were flown to China and relocated to the Chengdu Panda Base. Their handover was contractually agreed to between Germany and China, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life
Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan were born on 31 August 2019 at the Berlin Zoo, making them the first giant pandas born in Germany.[1][2][3][4][5] Meng Yuan is 48 minutes younger than Meng Xiang.[6] Their father Jiao Qing and mother Meng Meng were both born in Sichuan,[7][8] and arrived in Berlin for the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany in 2017.[9]
The births of Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan coincided with the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, bringing controversy to the naming of the twin panda cubs. Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, suggested that they should be named "Democracy" and "Freedom", while the people of Berlin suggested the names "Hong Hong", "Kong Kong", "Hotdog", and "Fries",[10][11] but the two pandas were named "Meng Xiang" and "Meng Yuan",[12] which mean "Long-awaited dream" and "Fulfilled dream", respectively.[13] The two pandas are also nicknamed "Pit" and "Paule".[14]
Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan are on lease from China for a provisional period of 15 years,[9] but in December 2023, the two pandas were sent to China,[5] and the Berlin Zoo held a farewell event.[15] Their handover was contractually agreed to between Germany and China, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ "Berlin zoo's twin panda cubs turn 1, gifted a special frozen cake". Hindustan Times. 2 September 2020.
- ↑ Crossland, David (30 January 2020). "New pandas charm Berlin as they meet their public". The Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025.
- ↑ Deutsche Welle (9 December 2019). "Berlin Zoo unveils panda twins on 100-day birthday". Taiwan News.
- ↑ "Slipping and sliding, first Germany-born panda cubs greet outside world". Reuters. 29 January 2020.
- 1 2 3 "Berlin Zoo sends first giant pandas born in Germany to China". Oxford Mail. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ Hunter, Marnie (January 2020). "Germany's first baby pandas make their public debut". CNN.
- ↑ "柏林动物园为旅德大熊猫双胞胎幼崽庆祝一岁生日" [Berlin Zoo celebrates the first birthday of German giant panda twin cubs]. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020.
- ↑ "柏林大熊猫"梦想"出现痉挛 入院检查后无恙" [The Berlin giant panda "Meng Xiang" appeared convulsions and was admitted to the hospital without any problems]. China News Service (in Chinese). 27 March 2021.
- 1 2 "熊猫"梦想""梦圆"柏林庆百日" [Panda twins "Meng Xiang" and "Meng Yuan" celebrate 100 days in Berlin]. Deutsche Welle (in Chinese). 9 December 2019.
- ↑ Connolly, Kate (5 September 2019). "Hong and Kong? Berlin's panda cubs at centre of Chinese human rights row". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ↑ "Controversy over naming of baby Berlin panda". Deutsche Welle. 6 September 2019.
- ↑ "Twin panda cubs named "Meng Yuan" and "Meng Xiang" in Berlin". Anadolu Agency. 9 December 2019.
- ↑ "In black and white: Berlin Zoo reveals twin panda cubs are boys called Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan". South China Morning Post. 9 December 2019.
- ↑ "Berlin zoo's panda twins take their first public tumbles". Gulf News. 29 January 2020.
- ↑ "Berlin Zoo holds farewell event for giant pandas Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan". Xinhuanet. 9 December 2023.
