Giant Panda "Xiang Xiang" begins preparations for independence

Giant Panda Xiang Xiang begins preparations for independence.
└─ 2018/11/01

Ueno Zoo has announced that, as Giant Panda "Xiang Xiang" (female) grows, she will begin preparations to live independently, separated from her mother "Shin Shin," starting November 13, 2018.

*We will move to "Step 4" from December 10, 2018 (Monday, a park holiday).Click here for details.


Shinshin	Shanshan

Target animals
Giant Panda
Ri Ri (male) was born on August 16, 2005, at the Wolong Conservation Center in China.
Shinshin (female) was born on July 3, 2005, at the Wolong Conservation Center in China.
Xiang Xiang (female) was born on June 12, 2017 Ueno Zoological Gardens

start date
Starting November 13, 2018 (Tuesday)

reason
To prepare for growing up away from one's mother
Giant Panda are solitary animals that do not live in groups. In the wild, they separate from their mothers and begin living alone when they are between 1.5 and 2 years old.
As for Xiang Xiang, her permanent teeth have grown in and she can now eat the same food as adult cubs, so it's time for her to become independent from her mother. We will gradually begin training her to separate from her mother, Shin Shin, and we are planning and preparing for her to become completely independent by December, when she will be one and a half years old.

Steps to becoming independent

Steps 1-3 are scheduled for November, and Step 4 for December.
We will announce each step of the transition on our website and Ueno Zoo official Twitter account.
Depending on the animal's condition, the order of each step may change, or the content may be modified.
For details on steps 1-4, please see below.

Step 1. Morning separation *November 13th - November 18th, 2018

Shin Shin and Xiang Xiang are kept separately in the morning, and together in the afternoon, at night, and when they are indoors (during closing procedures, rainy weather, etc.).

*During this period, you will not be able to see Shin Shin in the mornings.
*The room layout and timing of moves may change depending on the animals' condition.

Step 2. Separation while roaming outdoors (November 20, 2018 - December 1, 2018)

Shin Shin and Xiang Xiang are kept separately outdoors in the morning and afternoon, and together at night and when they are indoors (during closing procedures and in case of rain, etc.).

*During this period, you will not be able to see Shin Shin in the mornings.
Also, even in the afternoon, you may not be able to see Shinshin if she is not in Room 2.
*The room layout and timing of moves may change depending on the animals' condition.

Step 3. Separation at night *December 2nd to December 9th, 2018

Shin Shin and Xiang Xiang will be kept together in the morning, afternoon, and when they are indoors (during closing procedures and rainy weather, etc.), and will be separated at night when there are currently more opportunities for breastfeeding.

* Before moving to Step 4, animals may be separated from their enclosures during the afternoon outdoor release (the animals' placement will be the same as in the afternoon of Step 2).
*The room layout and timing of moves may change depending on the animals' condition.

Step 4. Living separately all day *From December 10, 2018

The separation is complete, and from now on, Xiang Xiang will live separately from Shin Shin.

*You will not be able to see Shin Shin in the morning.
*The timing of room changes may vary depending on the animal's condition.

[Added November 13, 2018: 3 images, 1 video]