Atlanta Beauty

Panda cub gets a name

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After months of anticipation, the name of Zoo Atlanta's giant panda cub was announced on December 15. (Photo: Courtesy Atlanta Zoo)

December 19, 2006

The wait is finally over! Zoo Atlanta's baby panda received a name on Friday—Mei Lan. The panda was born in September to parents Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who are on loan from China. Following Chinese tradition, the cuddly cub was named 100 days after her birth.

"What a great, great day for the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the people of China," said Dennis Kelly, president and chief executive officer of Zoo Atlanta.

Panda fans voted for Mei Lan's Mandarin Chinese name online. Fans had a chance to choose from 10 names, including Xiao Tao, meaning "Little Peach," and Mei Tao, meaning "Beautiful Peach."

Mei Lan (pronounced may-lan) means "Atlanta Beauty."

During the celebration, traditional Chinese lion dancers performed to ensure good luck and fortune for Mei Lan. Twenty girls from Chinese Children Adoption International also sang "Panda Mimi" in Mandarin Chinese.

Little Mei Lan missed the action, but participants could watch the panda cub on TV, sleeping during the ceremony. She even gave a big yawn and briefly woke up when they announced her name.

"I think she heard the name and was so pleased, she woke up," said Kelly.

Right now, Mei Lan weighs about 12 pounds and is 26.4 inches long, but she is growing bigger and stronger by the day. By her first birthday, she should be about 50 pounds! And since she took her first baby steps Thursday, Mei Lan may be ready for her first public debut in just a few weeks.

Beautiful and Endangered

Giant pandas are beautiful and often recognized by their fluffy black and white fur. Unfortunately, they are also endangered. The number of pandas living in the wild today is estimated at 1,600.

Scientists around the world have been working hard to help pandas survive. In the last six years, five cubs have been born in the United States. In 2006, 28 giant pandas were born worldwide in captivity. That's the largest number of panda cubs born since 1963!

"With the birth of this panda, we have achieved one of our highest goals," said Zhang Zhi-He, director of the Chengdu center for pandas in China. "This is a symbol of friendship between our countries, as we must all work together to protect the natural world."

 

Critical Thinking Question

Read today's news story, and then answer the following question.

Atlanta Beauty Why is it important for humans to try to save pandas?

Join a discussion of this question on our bulletin board.

 

Tiffany Chaparro is a contributing writer for Scholastic News Online.

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