4 Japanese Brothers
Shine on you, shine on me, … These sounds still go through my head since I visited Adventure World Shirahama in December 2007. Nanki-Shirahama is an amazing small coast town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Unknown by most Western Tourists, but oh so nice… Adventure World Shirahama was the first zoo to get giant pandas on a long term breeding loan. When 2-year old Yong Ming (Ei Mei) & You Hin arrived on September 6, 1994 they were writing history, a whole new concept was created. These pandas would not be only on display, but Adventure World would do research and try to breed the pandas. Sadly You Hin died on July 17, 1997. On July 7, 2000 Chengdu sent a new female to Shirahama, Mei Mei. She had given birth to twins in Chengdu in 1999 and nobody expected she would be pregnant. But two months after her arrival she gave birth to Liang Bang (Rau Hin). Over the last decade 13 panda cubs were born at Adventure World, 11 of them survived. They are the most successful panda breeding facility outside of China. A great example of collaboration between the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and their foreign partners. 4 of these cubs have returned to their parents native hometown. I will introduce them to you:
XIONG BANG (Japanese name = YU HIN)
Xiong Bang (Yu Hin) (male) was born on December 17, 2001 at Adventure World. He has studbook number 540. His mother is Mei Mei (408) and his father is Yong Ming (Ei Mei) (390). He is the second cub to be born at Adventure World. He was the first giant panda born outside of China in the month December. Xiong Bang moved to his parents native country on June 21, 2004. He lives at the No. 2 House of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
LONG BANG (Japanese name = RYU HIN)
Long Bang (Ryu Hin) (male) was born on September 8, 2003 at Adventure World. He has studbook number 573. His mother is Mei Mei (408) and his father is Yong Ming (Ei Mei) (390). He is the fourth cub to be born at Adventure World. He has a twin-brother, Qiu Bang (Shu Hin). Long Bang moved to his parents native country on October 27, 2007. He lives at the No. 2 House of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
QIU BANG (Japanese name = SHU HIN)
Qiu Bang (Shu Hin) (male) was born on September 8, 2003 at Adventure World. He has studbook number 574. His mother is Mei Mei (408) and his father is Yong Ming (Ei Mei) (390). He is the fifth cub to be born at Adventure World. He has a twin-brother, Long Bang (Ryu Hin). Qiu Bang moved to his parents native country on October 27, 2007. He lives at the No. 14 Enclosure of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
XING BANG (Japanese name = KOU HIN)
Xing Bang (Kou Hin) (male) was born on August 23, 2005 at Adventure World. He has studbook number 614. His mother is Mei Mei (408) and his father is Yong Ming (Ei Mei) (390). He is the sixth cub to be born at Adventure World. Xing Bang moved to his parents native country on March 15, 2010. He lives at the No. 14 Enclosure of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
No.14 Enclosure houses 2 giant pandas (Xing Bang & Qiu Bang). No. 2 House houses 5 giant pandas (Mei Lan, Long Bang, Xiong Bang, Shu Xiang & Qi Miao).
I had the chance to work with Xiong Bang at the No. 2 House for one day. It was an amazing experience.
Click here for my story.
At this moment, Pambassador Yumiko Kajiwara is taking care of star panda Xing Bang at the No. 14 Enclosure of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Yumiko is a big panda fan, she also tries to visit Adventure World Shirahama as often as she can! She is so happy that she can work with here in Chengdu with Japanese friend. Yumiko will learn you more about the pandas born in Shirahama. Visit Yumiko’s blog @ http://yumikaji15.blogspot.com/ Thank you Yumiko for sharing your experiences!
