Three adorable newborn panda cubs make their first public appearance.
The Giant Panda National Park is one of China’s first national parks, integrating 73 protected natural areas across Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Currently, the total number of wild giant pandas in China has recovered from 1,100 in the 1980s to about 1,900 today. While the wild panda population is recovering, new progress has also been made in the captive breeding of giant pandas. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, we met this year’s newborn panda cubs. How do these little angels grow up? What life miracles occur during their development?
2025 Newborn Panda Cubs
First Appearance of the “Little Trio”
At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, three giant panda cubs born this year made their first appearance to a global audience.
“Moon and Stars” is the name of the panda nursery. From the literal meaning, you can tell how much the panda keepers and research team adore the pandas.
These “little trio” love to play by squishing each other. Many people may not have seen a panda’s tail. When a panda is born very small, its tail appears long and somewhat transparent. But as it slowly grows, the tail widens a bit, so it ends up looking like a little broom.
Do Panda Cubs Change Their Look?
Sometimes They Wear “Gray Pants”
The third panda cub appears smaller at first glance. Its fur color looks lighter, even a bit grayish. Compared to other panda cubs, it seems to be wearing a gray coat.
We have a panda named Chengji, and basically every one of her cubs has gone through a “costume change”: starting from one month old, the panda’s fur is relatively light, and by two or three months, it turns black. This is indeed a strange phenomenon, so we call it the “gray gene.” Just like humans, pandas have family traits in different lineages.
Do Pandas Have a “Sound Pack”?
Special Calls of Panda Cubs
Through long-term observation by experts and research teams, it has been found that, within known ranges, giant pandas have over twenty types of calls.
That kind of “mm-mm” sound is to remind mom, like, “Hurry up, I’m tired,” or “I need a hug.”
Giant Panda National Park is a vast protected area established in 2021 in China, primarily across Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. It was created to connect fragmented habitats and consolidate over 80 existing reserves to form a unified conservation system. The park’s history is one of dedicated, modern conservation efforts aimed at protecting the iconic giant panda and its biodiverse mountain ecosystem.
Sichuan
Sichuan is a province in southwest China renowned for its distinct and famously spicy cuisine, as well as its natural beauty, including the habitat of giant pandas. Historically, it was an independent state known as Shu before its incorporation into China, and it served as a refuge for the Chinese government during WWII. The area is also famous for the Dujiangyan irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient engineering feat from 256 BC that still functions today.
Shaanxi
Shaanxi is a landlocked province in central-northwest China, renowned as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Its history is profoundly significant, having served as the capital for numerous dynasties, most famously as the home of the Terracotta Army in the city of Xi’an (ancient Chang’an). The province remains a major cultural and historical center, containing a wealth of ancient tombs, monuments, and relics from China’s imperial past.
Gansu
Gansu is a historically significant province in northwest China, famed for being a crucial segment of the ancient Silk Road. Its most renowned cultural site is the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing a millennia-old collection of Buddhist art. The province’s long, narrow corridor was a major crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between China and Central Asia.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a world-renowned conservation and research facility established in 1987 with an initial mission to rescue sick and hungry giant pandas. It has since evolved into a leading center for panda breeding, scientific research, and public education, playing a crucial role in the species’ recovery. The base is also a major tourist attraction where visitors can observe these iconic animals in a habitat that mimics their natural environment.
Moon and Stars
“Moon and Stars” is a modern public art installation in Zurich, Switzerland, created in 2001 by artist Pipilotti Rist. It consists of a large, illuminated crescent moon and a star affixed to the side of a historic water tower, creating a whimsical and surreal landmark. The piece playfully contrasts contemporary art with the city’s historic architecture.
