Mei Lan

Mei Lan refers primarily to a male giant panda born at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 6, 2006. He was the first offspring of Lun Lun and Yang Yang to survive past a few days. His name, Mei Lan (美兰), is derived from Chinese and translates roughly to "Atlanta Beauty" or "Atlanta Orchid."

Mei Lan's birth and early development were closely monitored and widely publicized, contributing to increased interest in giant panda conservation efforts. He was raised primarily by his mother, Lun Lun, with minimal human intervention, which allowed him to develop natural panda behaviors. He lived at Zoo Atlanta until February 4, 2010, when he was relocated to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China as part of a cooperative breeding program.

In China, Mei Lan participated in breeding programs to help increase the population of giant pandas. His transition to life in China and integration into the breeding program were significant events in the international panda conservation community. He successfully sired cubs, contributing to the overall health and genetic diversity of the captive panda population.

The name Mei Lan can also occasionally refer to a Chinese given name, separate from the specific panda mentioned above, that combines the characters "Mei" (美), meaning beautiful, and "Lan" (兰), meaning orchid. In this context, it would simply be a personal name, carrying the connotations of beauty and elegance associated with orchids.