Xin Xin (giant panda)

Xin Xin is a female giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) born in captivity at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City on July 1, 1990. She is notable for being the first giant panda born outside of China to survive to adulthood. Her parents were Pe Pe and Ying Ying, who were gifted to Mexico by the Chinese government in 1975. Xin Xin is a symbol of the long-standing friendship between Mexico and China. As of 2023, she remains at the Chapultepec Zoo and participates in conservation efforts through observation and potential future breeding programs (though advanced age poses a challenge). Her name, Xin Xin, means "hope" or "precious" in Mandarin Chinese. While not directly contributing to wild populations due to being born and residing in captivity, she contributes to raising awareness about giant panda conservation and the importance of protecting their natural habitat. She is a popular attraction at the Chapultepec Zoo.