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Alejandro Cegarra

In the past 47 years, Mexico has hosted 11 giant pandas. Now only Xin Xin remains and it's considered unlikely that Mexico will acquire another panda from China.

Commuters hustle past a mural of a giant panda inside the Mexico City metro system. At one time, pandas were so popular they appeared in pop music, television programs, and memorabilia.

A 1994 entry ticket for the Chapultepec Zoo features an illustration of Tohui.

A zoo worker enters Xin Xin's habitat holding a panda piñata as part of an enrichment program to keep Xin Xin mentally active.

Mariano Torres, a government employee, is dressed as public health mascot "Pandemio" as he parades through Mexico City for a community event. Pandemio became famous for encouraging the public to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic.

A commemorative medal issued on the fifth birthday of the giant panda Tohui, whose parents were gifted from China to Mexico. Tohui was born on July 21, 1981 and was the first panda outside of China to be born in captivity and survive beyond infancy. She lived to be 12 years old and is the mother of Xin Xin.

Reaching through the bars of her enclosure, García Ramírez brushes Xin Xin.

Panda caretaker Elias Garcia Ramirez checks Xin Xin’s health using a routine where he can see if Xin Xin have unusual movements or behaviors

Giant Panda Xin Xin stretches a paw through the fence for a routine check

Elías García Ramírez pushes a wheelbarrow of tools for cleaning Xin Xin’s habitat. The caretaker has been working with the zoo's giant pandas for 20 years.