Giant panda News

One year ago, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed Xiao Qi Ji—a precious giant panda born in the midst of a global pandemic. As the giant panda team prepares to celebrate his first birthday Aug. 21, take a look back at his top 12 milestones that left panda fans around the world in awe and ‘aww.’

Celebrate giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s birthday—and Zoo Guardians’ first anniversary—with giant panda keeper and real-life Zoo Guardian, Nicole MacCorkle!

If there was a competition to see who could balance a ball on their paws in the most adorable manner, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji would receive a perfect score!

When it comes to husbandry training, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is a quick learner (and a very good boy)!

How do you create a menu that is pleasing to the palates of giant pandas, flamingos and fishing cats?

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is branching out into new places to play! Get the scoop in assistant curator Laurie Thompson’s latest #PandaStory update.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is very engaged with his surroundings! Soon, he will start husbandry training, enabling him to participate in his own healthcare. See more videos in keeper Mariel Lally’s #PandaStory update.

In a playful battle over bamboo, Mei Xiang is always victorious. Get the latest news on our giant panda mother and her cub, Xiao Qi Ji, in keeper Nicole MacCorkle’s #PandaStory update.

Recently, giant panda mother Mei Xiang accompanied her cub, Xiao Qi Ji, for a climb! Watch the video and see more of our curious cub’s playful adventures.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is exploring new sites and climbing to new heights! Get the scoop on his latest adventures in keeper Nicole MacCorkle’s #PandaStory update.

Sunny days are here again! Warmer weather spells adventure for Xiao Qi Ji, and our 6-month-old giant panda cub had a blast exploring the great outdoors this week.

From the moment his hearty squeal heralded his arrival, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji became one of the most beloved bears on the planet. Celebrate with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo as we look back at how this curious cub and his adorable antics have inspired the conservationist in all of us.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji turned 6 months old. To celebrate, our half-birthday boy tried yet another new food: homemade applesauce made from cooked apples.

Just a few days shy of turning 6 months old, giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji accompanied his mother, Mei Xiang, into their outdoor habitat for the first time.

Enrichment toy smeared with sweet potato just might be Xiao Qi Ji’s favorite treat. This week, keepers gave our giant panda cub a new food to nibble on: biscuits!

Our chill giant panda cub had his first encounter with snow this week!

January was a month full of firsts for the Smithsonian's National Zoo's giant panda cub, Xiao Qi Ji. The growing bear played with his first enrichment toys, sampled his first sweet potato, took his first bite of bamboo, let fans into his habitat during his first livestream and experienced his first...

As snow blanketed the Washington, D.C., region Jan. 31, 2021, the Smithsonian's National Zoo's animals woke up to a winter wonderland.

Our little panda cub had a big week—from his livestream debut to his first taste of bamboo!

Our sweet panda cub had his first taste of sweet potato. Spoiler alert: he gobbled it up.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s word of the week seems to be: play! Our 4.5-month-old cub’s interest in his surroundings really took off this week.

Spending more time out of the den presents giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji with more opportunities to explore—and play!

As the calendar turns to 2021, it is human nature to reflect on the moments that sparked inspiration in an otherwise challenging year. Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji gave many who follow his milestones a reason to smile.

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji continues to explore and take on new challenges—like climbing up rockwork in the indoor habitat he shares with mother Mei Xiang.

From a litter of chirping cheetahs and the birth of a lovable giant panda cub to groundbreaking coral reef research and new strides in animal care, there were many milestones to celebrate this year.