In recent years, many zoos have achieved substantial profits through their animals. Some success is due to dedicated management, while others are simply a lucky surprise. Do you know which zoo animals are internet sensations? Today, we're listing ten of the most popular zoo stars online, including: Hehua, Menglan, Pallas's Simiao, Xiangxiang, Diuna, the Nanjing monkey, Angela, and more. Who's your favorite?
Star-nosed mole and crown algae
1. Flowers (which boosted tourism in Chengdu, Sichuan)
China boasts three legendary mythical creatures: the panda from Sichuan, the Pallas's cat from Xining, and the golden snub-nosed monkey from Dalian. Among them, the Sichuan panda is undoubtedly the most popular, with Hehua being the king of popularity. Hehua, also known as "Huahua," is highly recognizable, with pure white fur, a rounded shape, and almost no neck, resembling a small triangular rice ball when sitting. Every move it makes—eating, rolling around, lying down—attracts a large crowd of fans and sparks heated discussions. Some fans even start queuing as early as 6 a.m., just to be among the first to see it when the park opens at 7:30 a.m.
In 2023, Hua Hua became a sensation on major social media platforms, with "Panda Hua Hua" repeatedly topping the trending searches and remaining at the top for an extended period. Related data shows that tourists visiting Chengdu to see the giant panda Hua Hua spend an average of over 1,000 yuan (including airfare, accommodation, and entrance fees), while the panda base's annual revenue is projected to exceed 130 million yuan.
2. Menglan (Third Prince of Xizhimen)
Among the zoo's most popular animals, Meng Lan is second only to Hua Hua in popularity, and is nicknamed "Third Prince of Xizhimen," "Mengmengzai," and "Momo'er." Her father is Mei Lan, a panda who returned from the Atlanta Zoo in the United States. Meng Lan inherited the excellent genes of her parents and quickly became an internet sensation due to her doll-like cuteness upon birth.
Not only can she communicate with her caregivers in Sichuan dialect, but she has also become a big star on the internet thanks to this talent. Meanwhile, Menglan made the news for her playful fight with her caregivers because she couldn't accept that she weighed over 100 pounds, and she also caused a stir online because of her "prison break" incident, making her a veritable internet celebrity.
3. Simiao (the only male Pallas's cat in captivity)
The Pallas's cat is undoubtedly one of the most legendary and popular animals in zoos. Born in 2015, it was rescued from a resident's home in Xining City by the Qinghai Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center. After being raised in captivity, Pallas's cat has lived in the Xining Wildlife Park, the only place where Pallas's cats can be observed. The park's name also hides a "humiliating history."
During its first mating in 2018, the monkey, named Sun Simiao, lasted only four seconds, hence its nickname, a homophone for "Monkey Simiao." Starting with a humorous name, it quickly became a top internet celebrity, boasting its own Weibo hashtag and fan groups, attracting up to 2 million followers daily. A song was even created in its honor. However, in 2022, Sun Simiao tragically died after choking on chicken meat while eating, a truly heartbreaking loss.
4. Xiang Xiang (Japanese celebrity panda)
Among the most popular animals in zoos, pandas enjoy a high reputation not only in China but also internationally. Take Xiang Xiang from Japan, for example. This star panda was born on June 12, 2017, to male panda "Bili" and female panda "Xiannu," who arrived in Japan in 2011. Since birth, Xiang Xiang has been beloved, with 320,000 people naming her, and her growth has been documented by national television.
Xiang Xiang is undoubtedly the most economically successful panda, frequently making headlines in major Japanese media outlets. Statistics show that during her five-plus years in Japan, she generated 53.9 billion yen (approximately 2.78 billion yuan) in revenue for the local community, averaging about 500 million yuan annually. On her last day of operation before returning to China, Ueno Zoo in Tokyo opened its doors to the public, attracting a large number of fans who came to bid farewell to Xiang Xiang.
5. Diuna (a popular animal at Nanning Zoo)
In 2022, a chimpanzee at Nanning Zoo unexpectedly became an internet sensation due to its child-like behavior. The chimpanzee gained popularity for throwing stones and mud at visitors and splashing water, and its online popularity skyrocketed after a "giant feces" incident, ultimately earning it the nickname "Diu Na Xing" (meaning "throwing that chimpanzee"). The influx of visitors following the social media trend further boosted the Nanning Zoo's fame.
However, the orangutan's throwing behavior was actually out of anger. To prevent it from harming visitors, zoo staff enter the enclosure daily to check for safety hazards, promptly remove stones and other hard objects, and increase patrols to ensure safety.
6. The Nanjing internet-famous monkey (who was ostracized and bullied)
This monkey, which gained notoriety for its antics in Nanjing, was notorious for its various mischiefs, such as abusing cats, swinging on swings, chasing dogs, breaking into dormitories, and stealing kittens. Eventually, it was captured and sent to the Hongshan Forest Zoo for care. However, the monkey's life at the zoo was far from pleasant; it even suffered some humiliation.
After several months of adjustment, it was released back into the monkey enclosure, but immediately after being released, it was attacked by a group of monkeys for provoking them. To avoid the attacks, it could only live on a bamboo raft on the water, enduring extremely difficult living conditions. This scene was filmed by netizens and uploaded to the internet, once again sparking heated discussions among the public.
7. Angela (a Malayan sun bear that looks like a human)
Many zoo star animals become internet sensations through their adorable antics, but Angela's rise to fame is rather comical. According to BRTV's "Time Video," on July 29, 2023, a video posted online showed a black bear at the Hangzhou Zoo seemingly mimicking humans. The bear stood proudly while interacting with visitors, leading netizens to jokingly call it "the most popular human among humans."
The video was even reported by foreign media, and the host couldn't help but laugh. In fact, the black bear is named Angela, a Malayan sun bear, about the size of a large dog, usually between 110 and 150 centimeters in length.
8. Aoxue (the first snow leopard successfully bred in captivity in China)
"Aoxue" is a snow leopard born on June 10, 2016, at the snow leopard enclosure of Xining Wildlife Park. On its first birthday, its identity was officially revealed, and a naming contest was launched. After voting on Weibo and WeChat, "Aoxue" emerged victorious and became a popular pet. Before "Sunsimiao," Aoxue was Xining Wildlife Park's first star.
To help this "princess" make her debut, Qi Xinzhang, the deputy director of the kindergarten, a man with a science background, was forced to become an online writer. He created "Princess Diary" from Aoxue's perspective, which was serialized for 68 installments. He also created a super topic to enthusiastically support the princess.
9. Feiyun (the first female internet celebrity in the panda world)
In the panda world, Feiyun can be considered a first-generation internet celebrity. Its father is the giant panda Lulu, and its mother is the giant panda Feifei. Together with Jinhu and Miaoyin, they are affectionately known by fans as the "Three Treasures of Dalian." Feiyun's appearance is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the "bear world," embodying a perfect combination of health and cuteness.
With its round head, plump and well-proportioned body, and fine white fur, coupled with long and curled eyelashes, it perfectly embodies the harmony between a "fit body" and an "adorable appearance." Therefore, fans jokingly call it an adorable goddess who can "captivate a hundred hearts with a single glance and kill Lu Zhishen with a single punch." The "Fei" in its name comes from Zhang Fei, while the "Yun" is taken from Zhao Yun.
10. Ah Hang (with bangs and a lion's mane)
"Ahang," a white lion at the Guangzhou Zoo, has become an internet sensation for its unique hairstyle. Born in 2009, Ahang was brought to the Guangzhou Zoo from Hangzhou in 2015. Its abundant mane allows it to easily create various hairstyles, which is quite rare among white lions. Even among lions with generally thick mane, Ahang's mane is exceptionally dense.
Its hairstyle changes frequently, especially on wet days after rain. Netizens captured "Ahang's" smooth hair falling naturally, forming cute little bangs, which, paired with its bright little eyes, makes it even more lovable.
The list of the top ten most popular zoo animals online is based on a comprehensive assessment of factors such as the animals' overall online popularity, number of fans, exposure, and relevance to the theme. This list is for entertainment purposes only, and comments and corrections are welcome at the end of the article!
