Giant Panda

Lore & Background

Tai Shan was born at 3:41 am on July 9, 2005, to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, the National Zoo's second pair of giant pandas. The first pair, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, were donated to the U.S. by China in 1972 after Richard Nixon's historic visit; Ling-Ling died in 1992 and Hsing-Hsing in 1999 without producing any cubs that survived more than a few days. Both of Tai Shan's parents were born at the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province.

Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated in March 2005 with sperm from Tian Tian after natural mating appeared unsuccessful. Per the agreement with China, the Chinese government can require Tai Shan be sent to China any time after he turns two, as he and his parents are property of China. The National Zoo announced in April 2007 that it reached an agreement with China to let Tai Shan remain at the zoo until at least July 2009. Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong presented Tai Shan a 'passport' with an extended stay period to July 2009, without extra charge.

Reader's Guide

Tai Shan became widely popular, frequently mentioned on D.C.-oriented websites like DCist and Wonkette, as well as traditional media including National Public Radio, The Washingtonian, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Fans set up sites selling cub-related merchandise, including one partnered with cafepress.com that donated approximately $1,900 in profits to the National Zoo. He was featured in an Animal Planet documentary titled A Panda Is Born, which follows the National Zoo's giant panda breeding efforts and Tai Shan's birth.

A few months after his first birthday, Animal Planet premiered Baby Panda's First Year, following him during his first 12 months at the National Zoo. On July 9, 2006, Tai Shan and thousands of fans celebrated his first birthday at the National Zoo. As early as 7 am, visitors started to line up outside the panda exhibit, with the opening three hours away. One of his gifts was a giant custom-made fruitsicle with the number '1' on top.

Such ice treats gave Tai Shan some gastrointestinal problems which he has now recovered from. After 2007, Tai Shan lived on his own at the zoo, because cubs leave their mothers at about two years of age and fathers play no role in cub rearing.

Did You Know?

• Tai Shan was also known as Butterstick because a zoo worker said he was about the size of a stick of butter right after birth.
• His name was chosen by an Internet poll, winning 44 percent of 202,045 votes.
• He left for China on February 4, 2010, on the same flight as Mei Lan from Zoo Atlanta.