LifespanUp to 26 years under human care
Quick Facts
DietBamboo
HabitatBamboo & coniferous forests
RangeMountains of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces
Giant Panda
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Kai Kai and Jia Jia
The names for our black and white “permanent residents” were selected from 1,000 entries received during a nationwide naming contest. Our male was named Kai Kai, which means ‘victorious’ in Chinese, while Jia Jia (meaning ‘beautiful’) was chosen for our female.
Kai Kai and Jia Jia came on a 10-year loan from China, which has been extended for another five years. Their auspicious names bode well for the friendship between China and Singapore. Singapore is the ninth country to receive panda loans from China.
Routine care and checks
Since their arrival in Singapore, our vets and keepers have been busy getting the pandas up to speed on routine medical training. They are trained to be weighed, and quite amiably allow keepers to check their teeth, paws and other body parts. Jia Jia is now trained for procedures such as ultrasound and urine collection, while Kai Kai cooperates for dental X-rays. Both pandas also accede to toothbrushing and will even get in position for an injection, albeit with some protest!
The lovable “Mr Onion Head”
When Kai Kai first arrived, he preferred to partake of his meals in privacy and would retreat to a quiet spot to dine solo. Now, he is more outgoing and openly chews his bamboo or takes a nap in full view of visitors. But life has not been entirely relaxing for our lovable male, who’s been dubbed “Mr Onion Head” for the tuft of fur on his head. To improve his stamina and strength, Kai Kai’s keepers trained him to ‘squat’ on his hind legs for a few seconds at a go.
Panda gym
These squat exercises served to strengthen Kai Kai’s hind quarters, to help improve success rates during mating. However, he was found to be relying too much on his forelimbs to hoist himself up so his keepers have since progressed him on to the next level - the ‘crab walk’. For this exercise, Kai Kai practises walking sideways along the wall, which helps build more strength in his hind legs and overall endurance.
Mating pandas
Before they are put together for mating, keepers get the pandas to swap exhibits and dens, as smelling the scent of another gender stimulates their mating instincts and encourages hormonal changes. Artificial insemination is also carried out to maximise the pandas' chances of conceiving.
Keeping tabs on Jia Jia
Jia Jia took a daily dose of folic acid, a pre-natal and pregnancy supplement. To prepare for the possible arrival of a cub, she also received daily conditioning sessions for cub retrieval and urine collection. Keepers need to collect fresh urine samples to monitor Jia Jia’s progesterone levels to confirm pregnancy. Getting Jia Jia used to handing her cub to the keepers also means they can easily check its health and provide foster care if required.
Throwback to mum Jia Jia in her first few weeks of motherhood.
Let’s revisit some of the important milestones in Le Le’s growth from his birth till today.
Together, We Protect Wildlife
Conservation, not destruction
Humans destroy, but humans can also choose to protect. Concerted conservation efforts have lifted the panda’s status from endangered to vulnerable. Having the pandas under human care contributes to valuable knowledge of the species, which can then be put to good use in conservation initiatives in the wild.
The IUCN Status
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
DD
Data Deficient
Unknown risk of extinction
LC
Least Concern
At relatively low risk of extinction
NT
Near Threatened
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
VU
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild
EN
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
CR
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
EW
Extinct in the Wild
Survives only in captivity
EX
Extinct
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity
