Meng Xiang (Chinese: 梦想; lit. 'Long-awaited dream'), nicknamed Pit, is a male giant panda.[2] Born in the Berlin Zoo on August 31, 2019,[3] Meng Xiang and his twin Meng Yuan were the first giant pandas born in Germany.[4] Their father Jiao Qing and mother Meng Meng[5] were both from Sichuan,[6] and arrived in Berlin for 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Germany in 2017.[7]
| Chinese name | 梦想 |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Pit[1] |
| Born | August 31, 2019 Berlin Zoo, Germany |
The births of Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan coincided with the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, bringing controversy to the naming of the twin panda cubs. Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, suggested that they should be named "Democracy" and "Freedom", while the people of Berlin suggested the names "Hong Hong" and "Kong Kong". Some people suggested the names "Hotdog" and "Fries".[8][9] However, they were finally named "Meng Xiang" and "Meng Yuan".[10][11]
In December 2023, the two pandas were flown to China and relocated to the Chengdu Panda Base. Their handover was contractually agreed to between Germany and China, but was delayed by the pandemic.[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Berlin zoo's panda twins take their first public tumbles". Gulf News. January 29, 2020.
- ^ Deutsche Welle (2019-12-09). "Berlin Zoo unveils panda twins on 100-day birthday". Taiwan News.
- ^ "Slipping and sliding, first Germany-born panda cubs greet outside world". Reuters. January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Berlin zoo's twin panda cubs turn 1, gifted a special frozen cake". Hindustan Times. Sep 2, 2020.
- ^ "Berlin Zoo celebrates the first birthday of German giant panda twin cubs". Xinhua News Agency. 2020-09-01.
- ^ "The Berlin giant panda "Meng Xiang" appeared convulsions and was admitted to the hospital without any problems". China News Service. 2021-03-27.
- ^ "Panda twins "Meng Xiang" and "Meng Yuan" celebrate 100 days in Berlin". Deutsche Welle. Dec 9, 2019.
- ^ Connolly, Kate (2019-09-05). "Hong and Kong? Berlin's panda cubs at centre of Chinese human rights row". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Controversy over naming of baby Berlin panda". Deutsche Welle. Sep 6, 2019.
- ^ "Twin panda cubs named "Meng Yuan" and "Meng Xiang" in Berlin". Anadolu Agency. December 9, 2019.
- ^ "In black and white: Berlin Zoo reveals twin panda cubs are boys called Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan". South China Morning Post. 9 Dec 2019.
- ^ "Berlin Zoo sends first giant pandas born in Germany to China". Oxford Mail. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
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