Yuan Zi, our male panda, is “the son of the one who has a rounded head”. His mother was indeed named “Yuan Yuan” because her head was very “yuan”, meaning very “round”, and “Zi” means “son” in Chinese.
Yuan Zi is a great male of about 110 kg (240 pounds). He has a more impressive stature than the female and walks with self-confidence, especially before the photographs in front of which he likes to strut about. He even seems to appreciate posing! Speaking of posing, Yuan Zi has a way of his own to mark his territory: it is not rare to see him legs in the air and head down!
With his expressive look, Yuan Zi watches out for the arrival of his keepers every morning (or maybe only for the bamboos they carry…) and comes to meet them. During the day, he particularly appreciates to savour his bamboo in public, seated in his behind, covered with branches and leaves. After a good meal, he can usually be observed at the top of a tree, where he likes to take a nap.
Version française