Frequently Asked Questions about the giant pandas at Beauval
Update: October 2026
Yuandudu and Huanlili are now due to leave for China by the end of 2026. The All Saints’ Day holidays will therefore be the last school holidays during which you can come and see the panda twins at Beauval before they leave. Find out more about their story and plan your final visit before they leave.
Since the arrival of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi in 2012, giant pandas have held a special place in Beauval’s history. Which pandas can you see at the moment? Will Yuandudu and Huanlili be returning to China? Will new pandas be arriving at the ZooParc de Beauval? Find the answers to your main questions, as well as plenty of information about the pandas that have left their mark on the ZooParc de Beauval’s history.
Which giant pandas can you currently see at Beauval?
Yuandudu and Huanlili, born at Beauval on 2 August 2021, are currently the only two giant pandas at the ZooParc de Beauval.
Their parents, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, returned to China on 25 November 2025, after spending more than 13 years at Beauval. Their elder brother, Yuan Meng, had returned to China in 2023.
Will Yuandudu and Huanlili be returning to China?
Yes. As part of the cooperation with China regarding the giant panda, Yuandudu and Huanlili are due to return to China in turn.
The letter of intent signed between France and China on 4 December 2025 stipulates that they will remain at Beauval until at least December 2026.
Will any new giant pandas be arriving at Beauval?
Yes. France and China have renewed their cooperation on giant panda conservation. The agreement signed in December 2025 provides for the arrival at Beauval of a new pair, consisting of a male and a female.
When will the new pair of pandas arrive at Beauval?
Their arrival is planned as part of this new cooperation. The exact date has not yet been announced.
This FAQ will be updated when further information becomes available.
Do we already know which pandas will be coming to Beauval?
Not yet. The agreement provides for the arrival of a male and a female, but their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Why are new giant pandas being welcomed to Beauval?
The arrival of this new pair is part of the ongoing cooperation between France and China regarding the giant panda.
Beauval has been home to giant pandas since 2012 and has been involved in efforts to conserve this species ever since.
Do the giant pandas at Beauval belong to France?
No. The giant pandas at Beauval belong to China. This is also the case for the pandas born at Beauval, such as Yuan Meng, Yuandudu and Huanlili.
Their presence in France forms part of cooperation agreements concluded with the Chinese authorities regarding the conservation of the species.
Who is Yuan Meng?
Yuan Meng is the first giant panda born in France. The son of Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, he was born at ZooParc de Beauval on 4 August 2017.
His birth marked an important milestone in the history of giant pandas at Beauval, nearly five years after his parents’ arrival in France.
Who is Yuan Meng’s godmother?
Brigitte Macron is Yuan Meng’s godmother. She accepted this role shortly after his birth, in August 2017.
She was present at Beauval on 4 December 2017 for the Naming Ceremony, during which Yuan Meng’s name was officially revealed. ‘Yuan Meng’ means ‘the fulfilment of a dream or a wish’.
Brigitte Macron has also been present for several important moments in his life at Beauval. In particular, she returned to visit him in May 2023, a few weeks before his departure for China, and was at the airport to see him off in July 2023.
Why did Yuan Meng go to China?
Yuan Meng left Beauval on 25 July 2023, at the age of almost 6, to join the Chengdu centre in China.
His departure was part of the giant panda cooperation programme: cubs born at Beauval are sent to China so that they, in turn, can contribute to the species’ reproduction.
When were Yuandudu and Huanlili born?
Yuandudu and Huanlili were born during the night of 2 August 2021 at ZooParc de Beauval, nearly four years after their brother Yuan Meng.
Huan Huan gave birth to two females a few minutes apart: the first at 1.03 am and the second at 1.10 am. They weighed 149 g and 129 g respectively at birth.
How did Yuandudu and Huanlili get their names?
During their first few months, the two cubs were nicknamed ‘Cotton Flower’ and ‘Little Snow’.
Their official names, Yuandudu and Huanlili, were revealed on 18 November 2021 during the Naming Ceremony held at Beauval, just over 100 days after their birth. Several pairs of names proposed by China had previously been put to a public vote.
Yuandudu and Huanlili refer in particular to the names of their parents, Yuan Zi and Huan Huan. They also express the wish for the twins to grow up healthy and symbolise the ties between France and China.
Who are Yuandudu and Huanlili’s godfather and godmother?
Kylian Mbappé, the football World Cup winner, is Yuandudu’s godfather. Zhang Jiaqi, the Chinese Olympic diving champion, is Huanlili’s godmother.
Both took part in the Naming Ceremony held on 18 November 2021 at Beauval, during which the names of Yuandudu and Huanlili were officially revealed.
Why do young pandas become independent from their mothers?
The giant panda is a predominantly solitary species. As they grow up, the cubs gradually become independent and do not remain with their mothers for long.
At Beauval, this natural development is taken into account to ensure that each individual has a space suited to its needs.
Why were Yuandudu and Huanlili placed in an incubator after their birth?
The birth of twins requires special care. During their first few days, Yuandudu and Huanlili alternated between periods with their mother and periods in an incubator.
This arrangement allowed Huan Huan to look after each of her babies in turn, whilst the teams were able to closely monitor their condition and development.
In particular, the temperature of the incubator was adjusted for the newborns, who were not yet able to regulate their own body temperature.
Did Huan Huan know she had two cubs?
It is impossible to say for certain. The observations made by the teams did not allow them to determine whether Huan Huan was aware that she had given birth to two cubs, nor whether she could tell them apart when they took turns being with her.
Why was milk collected from Huan Huan?
During the very first few days after the birth, a small amount of Huan Huan’s milk was collected by hand to ensure that the twins were receiving enough milk and gaining weight properly.
The teams also ensured that they were receiving colostrum. This first milk produced by the mother after birth is particularly rich in antibodies and plays a vital role in the early life of newborns.
How can you tell Yuandudu and Huanlili apart?
As they grew, several physical differences enabled the teams to tell the two sisters apart.
Yuandudu has a shorter snout and a black tip to her tail, whilst Huanlili has a longer snout and a white tip to her tail.
Why do baby pandas have such a proportionally long tail?
At birth, the giant panda’s tail appears particularly long compared to the rest of its body. It then grows much more slowly than the rest of the body.
As an adult, the giant panda therefore has a relatively short tail.
