Added on March 27, 2025:
We have begun exhibiting Xiaoxiao in her enclosure. Please see here for details.

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After Giant Panda "Ri Ri" (male) and "Shin Shin" (female) were returned to China on September 29, 2024, "Xiao Xiao" (male) and "Lei Lei" (female) remained at Ueno Zoo, and these two are being kept and exhibited in the "Panda Forest" area.


West Garden" Panda Forest" (For details, please see "PANDA.JP")
Lei Lei uses enclosure B and room 1 on Red Panda side, while Xiao Xiao is allowed into room 2 in the evening, but during the day she uses room 3 and enclosure D on the children's zoo side.

Many of you may be wondering, "Why don't they use the spacious and easy-to-see enclosure C?" In fact, we animal keeper also wanted to let Xiao Xiao out into the undulating enclosure C so she could spend more time in a larger space, and we had been preparing for that. So, on a day when the zoo was closed in October, we let Xiao Xiao out into enclosure C.


Xiaoxiao when she went out into enclosure C
At the back of this enclosure is a planted area including tall trees, and to protect them, an electric fence (a fence with an electric current running through it to prevent escape) has been installed in front of it, dividing the enclosure. As a result, the pandas are unable to enter the planted area.

Xiao Xiao emerged from Room 2 into Enclosure C, exploring cautiously, sniffing everything carefully as she went. There was no sign of her falling into the moat between the enclosure and the viewing walkway, which was a relief, but then she touched the electric fence inside the enclosure. Startled, she ducked under the fence and continued further in. In the enclosures she had used before, the electric fence was located on the wall side, so she probably hadn't expected to find one in the middle.


The electric fence stretched across the enclosure and the planted area at the back.
Further into the planted area where she had wandered, there was a lower passageway leading down to a door that would take her back to the bedroom at the back of Room 2. However, it seemed that Xiaoxiao hadn't noticed it in this unfamiliar place. animal keeper tried to lure Xiaoxiao to the door by calling out to her from the rooftop and using food, but she wouldn't cooperate. Eventually, after about an hour, she returned through the same spot on the electric fence she had passed through (the electric fence's lights were turned off this time), and we were able to safely get her into Room 2.

Enclosure C is a very sunny area with little shade, but seeing Xiao Xiao in the planted area, I felt that the shade created by the tall trees and other plants makes it a comfortable environment for Giant Panda.

We had considered using these planting areas in the past, but at the time, it wasn't feasible because the transplanted plants needed protection until they were fully established. The current planting areas are now more than four years old and have taken root sufficiently. Therefore, we have decided to proceed with preparations to realize this plan once again.

We will continue our efforts to provide a comfortable environment for Xiaoxiao through her care and management. Please wait a little longer before we can make Xiaoxiao available for public viewing in enclosure C.

Added on March 27, 2025

On March 11, 2025, we began exhibiting Xiao Xiao in enclosure C. Prior to this, we prepared enclosure C and conducted practice sessions for Xiao Xiao's release.

As previously announced, the electric fence that Xiaoxiao had slipped through has been moved closer to the animal enclosure at the back. This allows Xiaoxiao to use the enclosure more freely.


The electric fence has been moved closer to the animal enclosure.
Furthermore, the planted area, which was previously behind the electric fence, is now freely accessible. The shade provided by these plants will also serve as a place to avoid direct sunlight. We hope that these changes will improve Xiaoxiao's living environment, even if only slightly.

We will continue to make efforts to create an even better environment for the pandas.




Xiao Xiao during her release training.
[Ueno Zoo West Garden Animal Care and Exhibition Staff]

(December 9, 2024)
(March 27, 2025: Status update)