Xin Xin is not only the last Mexican panda, but also the only individual in the world that does not belong to China. She is 35 years old and has far exceeded the life expectancy of her species. She is a unique specimen and, quite possibly, the last one we will see in Chapultepec.
Born in 1990, Xin Xin is not only one of the longest-living pandas on the planet, but also the last descendant of a dynasty of bears born and raised in Mexico. Her presence at the Chapultepec Wildlife Conservation Center is an event worth experiencing.
Xin Xin: The Last Mexican Panda
She is 35 years old, but her story begins much earlier. It all started on September 10, 1975, when the People’s Republic of China gifted Mexico a pair of giant pandas: Pe Pe and Ying Ying. This gesture of “panda diplomacy” achieved a level of reproductive success rarely seen outside of China. A total of eight cubs were born at the zoo, five of which reached adulthood.
Xin Xin, born on July 1, 1990, descends from that lineage. Her name means “Hope,” and she is the granddaughter of that original pair. Unlike all other pandas in zoos around the world, which are owned by China and are “on loan,” Xin Xin is Mexican.
Her keeper, Elías García, has been with her since 2010. He personally oversaw the transformation of her enclosure into the space we know today, filled with vegetation, logs, and more.
Xin Xin’s diet includes cooked rice, special pellets, apples, carrots, and bamboo, served up to five times a day. Elías describes their relationship as something that “comes from the heart”—a bond forged over the years.
The End of an Era in Chapultepec
The big question surrounding Xin Xin is whether she will be the last panda we see in Mexico City. Since she has not had any offspring, her departure marks the end of the Chapultepec panda family’s cycle. Once she leaves, it is very likely that we will never again have a panda owned by Mexico.
As her keeper explains, international policy has changed. Now, pandas only arrive in other countries under a “rental scheme,” where they stay for a limited time. The era of diplomatic gifts, like the one that gave rise to this dynasty, has ended. That’s why visiting Xin Xin is an opportunity to connect with a living piece of our city’s and the world’s history.
You can meet her at the Chapultepec Wildlife Conservation Center, located in the First Section of Chapultepec Forest. Admission is free, and the center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In the mornings, Xin Xin is usually in her enclosure taking long naps; however, throughout the day she roams her entire enclosure, so it’s hard to know exactly where you’ll find her. Additionally, there are times when she undergoes routine medical checkups.
