Mandai Wildlife Reserve's Giant Panda Forest to close from Apr. 21-22 for breeding season

It's breeding season again for the giant pandas at River Wonders.

Mandai Wildlife Reserve announced on Apr. 20 that the Giant Panda Forest at River Wonders will be closed temporarily from Apr. 21 to 22 to give Jia Jia and Kai Kai some peace and privacy during the mating season.

Both giant pandas took a break from breeding in 2024, giving Jia Jia a well-earned rest from being a "very busy and very capable mother" to panda cub Le Le.

Gave birth to Le Le after seven breeding cycles

Kai Kai and Jia Jia arrived in Singapore in 2012 on a 10-year loan from China and were due to return home in 2022. Their stay was later extended for five more years until 2027.

After seven breeding cycles, Kai Kai and Jia Jia successfully gave birth to Le Le via artificial insemination on Aug. 14, 2021.

Le Le remains the only giant panda to be born in Singapore. He returned to China on Jan. 16, 2024.

As part of an agreement with China, foreign-born cubs need to be relocated at around two years old to improve conservation efforts.

Kai Kai and Jia Jia will turn 18 and 17 respectively in September, 2025.