/https://xstreamcp-assets-msp.streamready.in/assets/HOTSTAR_DTH/MOVIE/690de3d3bd29c33a8a099560/images/LANDSCAPE_169/1734079368358-h?o=production)
The history of pandas at Ueno Zoo stretches back to 1972, when Lan Lan and Kang Kang arrived to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and China. The birth of Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao in 2021 was the operational peak of half a century of veterinary experimentation and habitat design.
| Panda Name | Birth / Arrival Date | Transfer Date to China | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiang Xiang | June 12, 2017 | February 21, 2023 | First naturally conceived cub successfully reared at Ueno in nearly three decades. |
| Ri Ri & Shin Shin | Arrived February 2011 | September 29, 2024 | Parent pandas returned to China for specialized geriatric care following age-related ailments. |
| Xiao Xiao | June 23, 2021 | Scheduled 2026 | Male twin; required initial green marking on fur for keeper identification. |
| Lei Lei | June 23, 2021 | Scheduled 2026 | Female twin; completed independent weaning in 2023 with steady growth metrics. |
The return of older sister Xiang Xiang in early 2023 served as an operational dress rehearsal for Lei Lei's move. Xiang Xiang's departure drew national news coverage across Japan, leaving thousands of fans in tears at Narita International Airport. When parents Ri Ri and Shin Shin were returned in autumn 2024 to treat chronic hypertension and age-related health challenges, Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao became the sole ambassadors remaining in Ueno's enclosure.
