Like Tao Tao and Zhang Xiang before her (the two pandas released under the current reintroduction protocol), Xue Xue spent two years of training in habitat selection, foraging, and avoiding natural enemies.  Under her mothers guidance, and without human intervention, Xue Xue learned to search for food and water, nest, and avoid predators.

It is only those pandas that “pass” all of the testing parameters that are deemed fit for reintroduction.  In Xue Xue’s case, not only did she meet and exceed all testing parameters, but she had also fully separated from her mother (which generally happens around the age of 2), showing that she was comfortably independent.  Xue Xue and her mother, Si Xue,  had no contact with each other for several months before she was transferred to Liziping.

Xue Xue was released on October 14, 2014.  Unfortunately, Xue Xue fell ill (likely due to a bite from a bamboo rat) and died about a month after her release.

The second panda scheduled for release in 2014, Xin Yuan, died prior to her release, while in the final stages of the training program.