View source for Yuan Zai (giant panda)

{{infobox animal
| name                    =Yuan Zai
|image = Yuan Zai Taipei Zoo.jpg
|caption       = Yuan Zai in April 2014 on a branch
|species = Giant panda
|gender = Female
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2013|7|6}}
|birth_place = [[Taipei Zoo]], [[Wenshan District]], [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
| parents                 = [[Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan]]
| children                = {{ill|Yuan Bao|lt=|zh|圓寶}} (younger sister)
}}
'''Yuan Zai''' ({{zh|c=圓仔|p=Yuánzǎi|poj='''Îⁿ-á'''}}) is a female [[giant panda]] born at the [[Taipei Zoo]] on July 6, 2013. She is the first panda cub born in [[Taiwan]], to parents [[Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan]] by [[artificial insemination]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tai |first1=Ya-chen |last2=Liu |first2=Shi-yih |last3=Hsiao |first3=Scully |title=Panda newborn to meet public within 6 months |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201307070014 |access-date=7 July 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=7 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yuan Zai celebrates her second birthday |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/07/2003622466 |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=7 July 2013}}</ref> As Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were sent to Taiwan from [[People's Republic of China]] in exchange for two [[Formosan sika deer]] and two [[Taiwan serow]]s,<ref>{{cite news |title=Deer, goats as gifts from Taiwan arrive at Weihai |url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-04/16/content_12338140.htm |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=China Daily |date=16 April 2011}}</ref> Yuan Zai does not need to be returned.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Low |first1=Y. F. |last2=Liu |first2=Chien-pang |title=Taipei Zoo throws birthday party for Yuan Zai |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201607020019 |access-date=7 July 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=2 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liang |first1=Pei-chi |last2=Hsu |first2=Elizabeth |title=Giant panda Yuan Zai celebrates 5th birthday at Taipei Zoo |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201807060019 |access-date=7 July 2020 |agency=Central News Agency |date=6 July 2018}}</ref>
The female baby was first nicknamed "Yuan Zai" by the zookeepers soon after birth. On October 26, at the zoo's 99th anniversary ceremony, the baby panda was officially named Yuan Zai after a naming activity that saw 60% of the votes go to the cub's nickname. The name "Yuan Zai" can be interpreted variously as "the little round thing", "[[Tangyuan (food)|rice ball]]", or "(Yuan) Yuan's child". On the same day, she was also presented an honorary citizen's card.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mo |first1=Yan-chih |title=Panda cub officially named Yuan Zai, gets citizen's card |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/10/27/2003575496 |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=Taipei Times |date=27 October 2013}}</ref>
==Media and public attention==
Yuan Zai was separated from her mother Yuan Yuan for her first month due to an inadvertent injury inflicted upon her by the first time mother.<ref>{{cite news |title=Giant panda cub Yuan Zai unveiled in Taiwan's Taipei zoo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25618303 |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=BBC |date=6 January 2014}}</ref> The two were reunited on 13 August 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands celebrate birthday of first Taiwan-born panda cub |url=https://news.yahoo.com/thousands-celebrate-birthday-first-taiwan-born-panda-cub-064914270.html |access-date=7 July 2020 |agency=Agence France Presse |date=6 July 2014}}</ref>
On January 6, 2014, Yuan Zai made her public debut at the giant panda house located in the zoo.<ref>{{cite news |title=First Taiwan-born panda cub Yuan Zai makes public debut |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/first-taiwan-born-panda-cub-yuan-zai-makes-public-debut/story-gT13rYS4LTnAkSvlRfdJuO.html |access-date=7 July 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=6 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=First Taiwan-born panda cub Yuan Zai on show at zoo |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-06/an-taiwan-born-panda-makes-public-debut/5187076 |agency=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=6 January 2014}}</ref>
In March 2014, Yuan Zai was featured in another popular video showing Yuan Yuan towing the baby back to bed.
==See also==
* [[List of giant pandas]]
* [[List of individual bears]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Yuan Zai}}
* [https://english.zoo.gov.taipei/ Taipei Zoo]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/TaipeiZoo Taipei Zoo YouTube Channel]
{{Famous giant pandas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuan Zai (Panda)}}
[[Category:Individual giant pandas]]
[[Category:Taipei Zoo]]
[[Category:Animals as diplomatic gifts]]
[[Category:Animals on the Internet]]
[[Category:2013 animal births]]