Mei Lan


Mei Lan is a male giant panda born at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, after his mother's, Lun Lun, record-setting 35-hour labor. Originally identified by zoo staffers as female, Mei Lan was determined to be male by staff in China at the Chengdu Research Base of Panda Breeding. He is the first offspring of Lun Lun and Yang Yang, who are also the parents of Xi Lan, Po, and two pairs of twins, Mei Lun and Mei Huan, and Ya Lun and Xi Lun. Mei Lan was relocated to Chengdu, China on February 4, 2010.

Naming

Mei Lan was named at a naming ceremony held on December 15, 2006, following the Chinese tradition of naming panda cubs when they are about 100 days old.
Mei Lan, which translates as "American orchid" or "beautiful orchid", was submitted by WSB-TV, the Atlanta ABC affiliate. The name was chosen from a public online poll on ajc.com after it won 22% of the votes. Many of the names in the poll contain the words "beautiful", "orchid", "peach" or "moon" that are often given to girls in China, because Mei Lan was originally identified as female.
NameChineseMeaningSubmitter
Chang Jiangt=長江Yangtze RiverOther
Cheng Yat=成婭pretty Atlanta girl from ChengduZoo staff member
Mei Lant=美蘭beautiful peachWSB-TV
Mei Lit=美麗beautifulWAGA-TV
Mei Taolabels=nobeautiful peachWGCL-TV
Ming Xinglabels=nobright starWXIA-TV
Ming Yuelabels=nobright moonZoo staff member
Ping Baolabels=noprecious treasureAJC
Tai Jilabels=noTai chiOther
Xiao Taolabels=nolittle peachPanda Express

Repatriation

Mei Lan, similar other zoo-born giant pandas in the United States, contractually belongs to China. He left for China on February 4, 2010, on the same flight as Tai Shan from the National Zoo in Washington D.C. He currently resides at the Chengdu Panda Base, where both his parents were born.