The Memphis Zoo is home to two giant pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le. As a valuable part of our zoo family, our keepers have invested a lot of time to learn everything about these two unique bears, from their eating habits to their favorite toys.
Special: Memphis Zoo has made a joint statement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens on the giant Panda Cooperation project. Read More
After greeting her keepers every morning with squeaks and sniffs, Ya Ya settles back with her pre-breakfast snack of sugar cane. She is very talented with her training sessions and helps with her own health care by stepping on a scale, opening her mouth, and presenting her belly for practice ultrasounds, all for her next favorite treat, grapes. She loves her mid-day training sessions and enjoys hanging out with her keepers at any time during the day. With her quirky personality, YaYa is a favorite of her keepers and guests alike.
Le Le enjoys his morning pre-breakfast snack of sugar cane, enjoys training for his second favorite treat, apples, then settles back to enjoy grazing on his bamboo for the day. He loves his hand-fed biscuit treats and having keepers bring him fresh bamboo whenever he is hungry. His favorite enrichment is scent. When keepers give him blankets or sheets with strong scents, he rubs his face on the fabric and rolls around in them. Le Le's laid-back personality is a great contrast to Ya Ya's outgoing nature.
Come see Le Le and Ya Ya face to face! You can learn more about our bears during daily keeper chats and meet the keepers who care for these animals daily.
If you or someone you know has bamboo growing on your property, visit our website and fill out the form to register to be a donor. Bamboo keeps our pandas happy and healthy!
Symbolically adopt a panda! 100% of the proceeds from adoptions go directly towards panda care.