Giant Pandas arrive at Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo has welcomed the arrival of Giant Pandas, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan with Director of Adelaide Zoo, Dr Phil Ainsley, noting their journey from Dujiangyan in China was very successful. The Pandas arrived in Adelaide on 15th December.

Dr Ainsley shared “both Giant Pandas were comfortable and relaxed throughout the flight.

“Yi Lan and Xing Qiu were accompanied by a Zoos SA veterinarian alongside a vet and panda keeper from our conservation partner the China Conservation and Research Centre of Giant Panda (CCRCGP).

“They regularly checked on the pandas throughout the flight and made sure they had plenty of bamboo snacks!”

After a short stopover in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, the Giant Pandas landed into Adelaide in the early hours of this morning before making the journey across the city to Adelaide Zoo.

Dr Ainsley added “we are very grateful for the support from the South Australian public and panda-fans across Australia and the world.

"This is such an exciting new chapter for Giant Pandas in Australia, and we look forward to learning all about Yi Lan and Xing Qiu’s personalities, likes and dislikes.

“During the time that Wang Wang and Fu Ni were with us at Adelaide Zoo, their species conservation status improved plus we saw an increase in Giant Panda numbers in the wild.

“So we can’t wait to see what is in store during this new Giant Panda era and for the next generation of South Australians to grow up with Yi Lan and Xing Qiu; hopefully sparking a love for their species and conservation into the future.”

Yi Lan and Xing Qiu are now settling into their new home and getting to know the Adelaide Zoo keeping team. During this time, Bamboo Forest will be closed to the public while the pandas complete a mandatory quarantine period.

Zoos SA expects the public will be able to catch their first glimpse of the panda pair in mid-January, once this period is complete.

Male, Xing Qiu is four years old with Yi Lan being a three-year-old female.

Giant Pandas used to range throughout southern and eastern China, Myanmar and north Vietnam. Today, they live in six major mountains ranges in the Sichuan and Gansu Provinces with an estimated 1,864 Giant Pandas living across a 23,000 square kilometre range.

Giant Pandas reach breeding maturity between four and seven years of age and can breed into their 20s. Female pandas ovulate only once a year in spring.

Zoos SA looks forward to sharing more black-and-white news with the community during this next chapter of the zoo’s panda journey.

To keep up to date with Zoos SA’s Giant Panda news please visit, adelaidezoo.com.au.