Among the most beloved protagonists of the world of giant pandas, stands out He Ye (和叶/Heye), the panda's twin sister Hua Hua. He Ye has a bright personality with an irresistible charm. With her unmistakable appearance and a character full of curiosity, this cute panda born at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base è oggi una delle figure più seguite dagli appassionati di fauna selvatica. Nata il July 4, 2020, He Ye—whose name means "green leaf of the He family"—belongs to lineage no. 1238 and immediately won the hearts of the public. His story is a blend of sweetness, intelligence, and determination typical of the great icons of the animal world.
Panda He Ye, director Hua Hua's twin: delicate features and natural charm
He Ye's face is among the most recognizable in Chengdu. A strong vertical black line runs across her nose, giving her a lively and bold expression. thin shoulder straps, inherited from her mother Cheng Gong (成功), and the long, fluttering eyelashes completano un aspetto elegante e fotogenico, perfetto per il suo status di “panda celebrity”. Nei mesi successivi alla nascita, la piccola He Ye visse un episodio curioso. Durante un isolamento sanitario nel marzo 2021, i suoi fan le diedero il soprannome di “Big Ox” and the English nickname “Daniel”. The latter is inspired by the Chinese term 大牛 (Da Niu, “Great Ox”), an affectionate gesture to support her with irony and love.
A precocious talent: from childhood to online fame
He Ye stood out from the moment she was a puppy for her liveliness and surprising intelligence. Just three days after birth she already showed extraordinary reactivity, while at five months she had learned to to climb nimbly, cosa che le valse tra i custodi il titolo di “piccolo genio dello studio”. Nel suo percorso non sono mancati momenti comici: ad aprile 2021, passata sotto la cura della panda madrina Aili (艾莉), He Ye fu sorpresa a steal food from the nest of his guardian. An innocent gesture, yet revealing of his mischievous spirit, capable of eliciting laughter from fans and zoologists.
However, a delightful twist overturned the perception of her admirers for years: until January 2024, He Ye was believed to be male. Only then did the Chengdu Base officially confirm that He Ye was female, making the discovery a veritable media sensation among enthusiasts.
Childhood cared for with love and family ties
As often happens between twin pandas, He Ye and her sister He Hua (和花) furono separate a nove mesi, poiché la madre non poteva più allattarle entrambe. He Ye venne accolta da Aili, che le offrì un ambiente sicuro e affettuoso. Questa figura materna adottiva — legata alla famiglia He anche per via di Gong Zai (功仔) — contribuì in modo determinante al suo sviluppo fisico e comportamentale. Nel Chengdu Panda Kindergarten, He Ye reunited with his sister He Hua and new friends like Run Yue (润玥) and Ai Jiu (艾玖), with whom he formed the “Jiu Cai Hua Ye” group under the guidance of their keeper, Grandfather Tan. His relationship with He Hua remains one of the most fascinating in the panda community: moments of play, little pranks, and tender hugs define a genuine and profound bond, which demonstrates the social and affectionate nature of these extraordinary animals.
He Ye today: symbol of vitality and curiosity
Today, He Ye permanently resides at Chengdu Research Base, dove continua a stupire con il suo comportamento vivace e il suo charme naturale. I video e le foto che la ritraggono giocare, esplorare o interagire con altri panda sono divenuti virali sui social network, trasformandola in una star globale amata da milioni di utenti. He Ye rappresenta un perfetto esempio di come la giant panda conservation is not just science, but also a powerful form of communication and cultural connection. With his intelligence, gentleness, and family history, He Ye is today one of the most precious icons of Chinese wildlife.