Meet Le Le: Singapore’s First Panda Cub
Singapore has just turned the formula “Hello, baby!” into a headline, with the birth of Le Le, the tiny panda that’s all the buzz across the city.
Why “Le Le”? From an ancient word to a modern star
The name, borrowed from the old Chinese term shi le po (a nod to Singapore), was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Vice‑Premier Han Zheng at a virtual ceremony. They’re the co‑chairs of the 17th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and its steering meetings – a fancy way of saying they’re the execs who made this happen.
From zoo‑family to family‑celebrity
- Le Le emerged on August 14, the first offspring of Kai Kai (14 yrs old) and Jia Jia (13 yrs old) since the pair landed in Singapore back in 2012, loaned from Chengdu.
- Like any newborn, he weighed a mere 200 g at birth, but by November 17 he had cheek‑puffed up to just over six kilos.
- Social media loved him from day one – selfies, cuddles, those “so‑cute” vibes that capture the hearts of netizens globally.
Next year at River Wonders
Le Le will be a fixture beside his mum Jia Jia in the public exhibit at River Wonders (formerly River Safari) by early 2024. The duo’s adorable antics are sure to draw crowds.
How the name was chosen
Remember the public vote? Between November 3‑7, over 64,000 votes channeled into five finalists: Hong Hong, Xin Le, Xin Yang, Xin Yuan and of course Le Le. A panel of academics, Chinese Embassy reps, local government bodies, and Mandai Wildlife Group swore wielding the voting wizardism to firm the winner.
Fertilization 101
Back in April, Kai Kai and Jia Jia had shown the classic heat signs. Natural mating? No luck. So the caretakers got creative: artificial insemination with Kai’s frozen sperm, catching the window before Jia’s fertile period ended. This ensures the once‑a‑year breeding season was maxed out.
What comes next for Le Le?
When he turns two, he’s slated to return to China, riding the spring train toward the next chapter of his life — as per the original loan agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. All in line with the panda’s seventh breeding season (they started in 2015).
Only one agency published this piece—The Straits Times, which holds all rights. The story’s official tags: ‑‑.
