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MEET / 1238An individual life
Heye
和叶
- Life status
- Living
- Born
For years after birth, Heye was believed to be Hehua’s younger “brother.” As Heye grew older, the traits originally taken as male became less apparent. In 2024, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding asked experts to collect biological samples for sex determination, confirming that Heye is female. Hehua and Heye, long described as a brother-and-sister pair, were therefore confirmed to be twin sisters.
- Sex
- Female
- Studbook number
- 1238
- Current place
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Timeline
3 recorded events
Born at the Chengdu Panda Base with twin sister Hehua
Heye was born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on July 4, 2020, with twin sister Hehua.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Was confirmed female through biological-sample testing
Experts collected biological samples on January 24, 2024, and confirmed that Heye is female; she had long previously been believed to be male.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Began living separately from Hehua after years together
Heye and twin sister Hehua ended their long period of living together on May 18, 2026, and began living separately. Both remained in Villa No. 6, changing from “roommates” to “neighbors.”
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Relationships
Mother
Father
Places
Current place
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Read more about its time in different places in the Timeline.
Sources
These are sources related to this panda. Sources for individual events appear in the timeline; one source does not establish every detail.
- sc.people.com.cnhttps://sc.people.com.cn/n2/2024/0125/c345459-40725849.html
Event source
- www.cqrb.cnhttps://www.cqrb.cn/shishi/2026-05-18/2670853_pc.html
Event source