Name: Hua Mei

Gender: Female

DOB: August 21, 1999

Stud #: 487

Astrological star sign: Leo

Hobbies: Eating bamboo, sitting, sleeping

Hua Mei seems quite accustomed to the paparazzi, and seemed to be playing hard to get as I waited patiently for her to turn towards the camera. Eventually, she took pity on my cold hands and posed for a picture on her upper patio before lying down for a long nap.

Hua Mei is somewhat of an international celebrity. Having been born at the San Diego Zoo, she is a panda of great importance to the field of international panda conservation. She is the first panda to be born outside of China and survive to adulthood. Her cub-hood was reminiscent of the Truman Show; as millions of people watched her explore, play, and grow via Panda Cam. It’s fitting that she was born a Leo. At the age of 5, she was repatriated to the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China. After the 2008 earthquake, she was relocated here to Bifengxia. Hua Mei evidently adjusted well to the Chinese panda life, and over the past 13 years has given birth to over ten cubs her most recent being Hua Rong who was in the reintroduction training for a short period! Now 18 years old, Hua Mei is pushing the natural life expectancy of a panda in the wild. But in captivity, she could enjoy at least another 10 years of munching bamboo and taking naps.

Hua Mei searches for the perfect piece of bamboo.

Although Hua Mei lived it up during her younger years under the spotlight, life has slowed down since returning to China. Currently, she seems quite happy with the humble but spacious accommodations provided to her in her IPP3 pen. The neighborhood is quiet, as her neighbors Yang Yang and Lan Zi keep to themselves most of the time. She often sits on her lower patio to enjoy a delicate meal of bamboo culm and leaves; supplemented by the occasional carrot, panda bread, or succulent bamboo shoot. This is usually followed by a nap on her upper patio. She takes pleasure in living the quiet life.

Hua Mei pauses her meal to gaze pensively into the distance.

During our observation period on Saturday, she exhibited fewer stereotypes than other pandas that we’ve seen, kept in smaller enclosures than hers. This could point to a less stereotypical personality, or it could indicate lower stress levels from the larger and more varied enclosure. However, it could also be due simply to the overlap between our observation period and feeding time; which keeps her outside where she is less stereotypic.

I feel like I could relate to Hua Mei a bit more than the other pandas I’ve observed so far, but I can’t put my finger on why.

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Jeremy Vandenberg is studying giant pandas from December to February at Bifengxia; working on the stereotypical and maternal care studies.