Kang Kang (giant panda)

Kang Kang
Chinese康康
Born1970[1]
DiedJune 30, 1980

Kang Kang (Chinese: 康康; 1970 - June 30, 1980) was a male giant panda[2] born in China in 1970.[3] Along with Lan Lan, they were the first pair of giant pandas at the Ueno Zoo,[4] gifted to Japan by China after the normalization of relations between the two countries.[5]

Kang Kang and Lan Lan caused an immediate sensation when they arrived in Japan.[6] Subsequently, a so-called "panda boom" occurred in the country.[7] In 1974, this pair of giant pandas attracted 7.64 million visitors.[8]

Kang Kang and Lan Lan failed to give birth to babies. In January 1980, another female giant panda, Huan Huan, came to Japan from China to be Kang Kang's second "bride". However, he died suddenly of a summer cold on June 30th after just six months.[9]

  1. ^ "Information about Giant Panda Kang Kang". Panda News. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  2. ^ "Tokyo Guards Arrival Of Pandas From China". The New York Times. October 29, 1972. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Vernon N. Kisling (18 September 2000). Zoo and Aquarium History: Ancient Animal Collections To Zoological Gardens. CRC Press. pp. 315–. ISBN 978-1-4200-3924-5. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Feature: Japanese people show rapturous love for giant pandas at Tokyo's Ueno zoo". Xinhua News Agency. 2019-07-13. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Pandas Mate in Tokyo Zoo". The New York Times. June 5, 1977. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Xiang Xiang debuts at Tokyo Zoo". People's Daily. December 20, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "Pandas coming to Ueno part of bigger pattern". The Japan Times. Sep 14, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Giant panda cub makes debut in Tokyo". Kyodo News. Dec 19, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Chinese giant panda's journey to Japan". The Nikkei. Nov 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2021.