Xiao Qi Ji
 Xiao Qi Ji at the Smithsonian National Zoo in August 2021. | |
| Species | Giant panda |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | August 21, 2020 National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., United States |
| Residence | National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. |
| Parent(s) | Mei Xiang, Tian Tian |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Named after | Little Miracle |
Xiao Qi Ji (simplified Chinese: 小奇迹; traditional Chinese: 小奇蹟; pinyin: Xiǎo Qíjì, meaning "little miracle") is a male giant panda cub who was born at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., on August 21, 2020.[1][2][3][4] The fourth surviving cub of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, Xiao Qi Ji is a result of an artificial insemination of Mei Xiang on March 22, 2020. Xiao Qi Ji is the youngest brother of Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei.
Birth[edit]
Xiao Qi Ji was born on August 21, 2020, at 6:35 PM to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian the National Zoo's second pair of giant pandas. With Xiao Qi Ji's birth, Mei Xiang, who is aged 22 years, set a record of being the oldest giant panda in the United States to give birth and the second oldest panda to give birth in the world.[4] He is the fourth surviving cub of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. He was also a part of an artificial insemination of Mei Xiang on March 22, 2020, shortly after the National Zoo temporarily closed down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Naming[edit]
As a result of an online vote held on the Zoo's website, Xiao Qi Ji's name was chosen and revealed 100 days after his birth, on November 23, 2020.[5] The four choices for names were 小奇迹 (Xiǎo Qíjì, meaning "little miracle"), 幸福 (Xìngfú, meaning "happy and prosperous"), 福仔 (Fú Zǎi, meaning "prosperous boy"), and 仔仔 (Zǎi Zǎi, a traditional Chinese nickname for a boy).[6] People such as Steve Monfort, Lonnie Bunch, Cui Tiankai, Muriel Bowser, David M. Rubenstein and a group of students of the Sunshine School of Chinese Embassy gave remarks on the naming event on a video on YouTube.
Viewing[edit]
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Xiao Qi Ji made his public debut on May 21, 2021, when the National Zoo reopened after closing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. On November 8, 2023, Xiao Qi Ji and his parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian left the National Zoo and returned to a panda reserve in Chengdu, China.
References[edit]
- ^ "Giant Panda Cub Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo". 21 August 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "National Zoo's panda cub named Xiao Qi Ji, or 'Little Miracle'". NBC News. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ "National Zoo reveals panda cub's name: Xiao Qi Ji, meaning 'Little Weird Miracle'". Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ a b Hauser, Christine (2020-11-23). "The National Zoo's Panda Cub Has a Name: Xiao Qi Ji". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- ^ "His Name Is Xiao Qi Ji". 23 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "National Zoo holds naming contest for its new giant panda cub". WTOP. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
