Berlin, Germany – August 22, 2026 – Zoo Berlin’s beloved giant panda twins, Leni and Lotti, celebrated their second birthday today with a festive ice cake, much to the delight of their care team and visitors. The special treat, colored with beetroot and carrot juice, was presented to the young pandas in their outdoor enclosure, where they enthusiastically devoured it.
Two Years of Remarkable Growth and Personality
Since their birth on August 22, 2024, Leni and Lotti have shown significant development. Born weighing just 169 and 136 grams respectively, they have grown into substantial giant pandas. Leni now weighs over 70 kilograms, while Lotti weighs approximately 61 kilograms. Interestingly, the weight difference between the two has reversed, with Leni now being the heavier twin, compared to their mother Meng Meng (13) who weighs around 85 kilograms.
Dr. Florian Sicks, panda curator, noted the twins’ growing independence and distinct personalities. “Leni and Lotti have become much more independent and are gradually developing into young giant pandas with personalities of their own. At the same time, their close mother-cub bond remains clearly visible. Both sisters still regularly seek out Meng Meng and want to play with her,” he reported.
Behavioral Differences and Training
The twins also exhibit noticeable differences in their daily behavior. Lotti is described as a true bamboo connoisseur and is highly motivated during medical training, which includes practicing procedures like blood draws and dental examinations with her care team. Leni, on the other hand, is less enthusiastic about these exercises but is more affectionate and often seeks her mother’s company. They also have differing preferences for indoor versus outdoor environments.
Diet and Weaning Process
Both Leni and Lotti are still being nursed by Meng Meng. Lotti, the slimmer twin, continues to receive 100 milliliters of milk daily, an amount that will be gradually reduced until early September. Supplemental milk is crucial for raising panda twins, as wild panda mothers typically focus on only one cub. As the cubs become more independent and develop an increased appetite for solid food, supplemental milk can be discontinued.
Bamboo now constitutes a growing portion of the Berlin panda sisters’ diet, supplemented by special panda biscuits made from various flours and sweet potatoes, following a traditional Chinese recipe.
Ambassadors for Conservation
Dr. Andreas Knieriem, Zoo and Tierpark Director, highlighted the twins’ role in conservation efforts. “Two years ago, Leni and Lotti could still fit in the palms of our hands; today, the two of them together weigh more than 130 kilograms. Watching their development has been something truly special for our entire team. As true Berliners, they have long since won many fans throughout the city. At the same time, they are ambassadors for a species whose conservation can only succeed through international cooperation. We must not forget that fewer than 2,000 giant pandas live in their natural habitat,” he emphasized.
Future Plans for Leni and Lotti
Young giant pandas typically begin to separate from their mothers around two and a half years of age. Currently, there are no signs of this in Leni and Lotti, and the panda family will remain together for the foreseeable future. The decision regarding when Leni and Lotti will leave Berlin will depend primarily on the animals themselves and has not yet been finalized.
The Berlin Panda Story: A Legacy of Conservation
Germany’s only giant pandas have resided at Zoo Berlin since summer 2017. The Panda Garden officially opened on July 5, 2017, with the presence of then Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Meng Meng first gave birth on August 31, 2019, to Pit and Paule, the first giant pandas ever born in Germany. These two brothers returned to China in December 2023 and now reside at the Chengdu Panda Base. Leni and Lotti, born on August 22, 2024, represent the second generation of panda offspring in Berlin.
The German names Leni and Lotti hold special significance for Berlin: Leni honors Marlene Dietrich, born in Schöneberg, while Lotti references the neighboring district of Charlottenburg.
International Conservation Efforts
The giant panda is currently classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, populations have shown recovery in recent years, though fewer than 2,000 giant pandas remain in their natural habitat.
Since 2017, Zoo Berlin has been actively involved in an international collaboration with the Chengdu Panda Base and other scientific partners. This includes Professor Thomas Hildebrandt and Dr. Susanne Holtze from the Reproductive Management Department at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), as well as wildlife endocrinologist Dr. Jella Wauters. The successful rearing of Leni and Lotti is a testament to this long-term cooperation, aimed at conserving this highly specialized species.
Source: https://www.zoo-berlin.de/en/latest/news/detail/panda-party-hoch-zwei
