First giant panda born in captivity

The first giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca known to have been born in captivity was a male named Ming-Ming ("bright"). He was born at Beijing Zoo, China, on 9 September 1963. His parents were Pi-Pi (the father) and Li-Li (the mother). Almost exactly one year later, on 4 September 1964, Li-Li gave birth to a second panda cub. This one was female, and was named Lin-Lin ("pretty jade").

Beijng Zoo's Ming-Ming should not be confused – but often is – with Ming Ming, a female rescued in the wild as a cub in 1977, who died of age-related kidney failure on 7 May 2011, aged 34, at the Xiangjiang Wild Animal World in China's Guangdong Province, where she had resided since 1998. At the time of her death, she was the oldest giant panda in captivity.

Giant pandas do not normally live more than 22 years in captivity (and no more than 15 years in the wild).