Xiong Bang was born on December 17, 2001 at the Baibang Wildlife Park in Wakayama, Japan. He is the son of Mei Mei and Yong Ming, two pandas that were living in Japan. He is the eldest son of the Bang family, which is the most successful overseas panda family. On December 17, 2001, Mei Mei  gave birth to twins, sadly one of the twins was stillborn. The other cub, Xiong Bang, under the careful care of his mother Mei Mei became the eldest son of the Bang family. Giant pandas usually mate in the end of winter and beginning of spring, and give birth in the summer, however Xiong Bang was born in the winter. For captive pandas, this is the first case of natural mating in the autumn and the birth of a cub in the winter! This is a world record in the captive breeding history of giant pandas.

“Hello! I’m Xiong Bang!”

Xiong Bang's face looks thin, sharp and angular. He has a slightly long mouth, big and straight ears, a long body and long paws, which are the prominent characteristics of the "Bang family". Although he looks thin, Xiong Bang is very heavy and strong, he weighs 140 kilograms! He is one of the heaviest giant pandas in captivity.

“I'm thin, but I'm strong!”

“Good appetite and good health!”

On July 21, 2004, when Xiong Bang was two and a half years old, he returned to his ancestral hometown,  Chengdu. He is the first giant panda born overseas to return from abroad. Xiong Bang is very popular in Japan. When he left Japan, many Japanese people went all the way from Baibang Wildlife Park to the airport to see him off, and the media vied for coverage. When he returned to Chengdu, he was also warmly welcomed by many enthusiastic panda fans. After two months of quarantine observation and acclimation to the environment at the Chengdu Panda Base, the returnee was formally integrated into the large family of pandas at the  Panda Base.

Xiong Bang is scent marking in the playground.

In 2008, when Xiong Bang was over 6 years old and considered an adult panda,  he suddenly fell ill.  While the staff were preparing for him to mate, Xiong Bang, who has always been in good health, suddenly refused to eat and looked restless. The keepers were very worried. Veterinarians and scientists from Panda Base and other experts  examined Xiong Bang with ultrasound, CT scan and X-ray to diagnose Xiong Bang. It was confirmed that Xiong Bang suffered from an intestinal obstruction. Through the timely treatment by the veterinarians and the diligent care of his keepers, Xiong Bang eventually stabilized and slowly recovered. In April 2008, Xiong Bang  naturally mated with Mao Mao, and they had their first cub,  Da Mao, in September of that year.

Experts are examining Xiong Bang.

Xiong Bang mating naturally with Mao Mao.

Now, Xiong Bang is over 18 years old. He has sired many cubs in the Panda Base. Each day he takes a leisurely walk, eats, and has a rest on a platform in his enclosure when he is tired. His life must be very pleasant knowing that he has played a large role in conserving his species.

A leisurely walk

Occasionally dazed

Eat bamboo shoots when hungry.

Have a rest when tired.

Although Xiong Bang is a little old, he still has a good appetite and good health! Wish he live a long and healthy life forever!