Breeding Cooperation

In response to China’s major political and diplomatic needs, the Panda Base, under the leadership of the state, the province and the city, has successively established the “Giant Panda Long-term International Cooperative Breeding Program” with Japan, the United States, Spain, France, Germany, and Denmark, and carried out cooperation and research in many fields such as giant panda breeding, animal behavior and conservation education. As of 2023, a total of 25 births with 37 cubs of giant pandas have been given thanks to international cooperation.

Adventure Worldin Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan

Since 1994, the Panda Base and Japan’s Adventure Worldhave been carrying on the first international cooperative breeding program for giant pandas, with a total of 21 giant pandas jointly bred in12 births, 17 of which survived, creating the most satisfactory results in the field. Giant panda Mei Mei gave birth to 9 cubs in 5 births in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006 respectively, 7 of which survived. Sherepresents the first captive giant panda to have estrus in autumn and give birth in winter with 9 cubs born and 7 of them surviving. As of 2023, 14 giant pandas living in Japan have successfully returned to China.

Zoo Atlanta in the United States

Since the Base launched the International Cooperative Breeding Program with Zoo Atlanta (and Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States) in 1999, superb and skilled breeding techniques of the Base’s experts had enabled the giant panda Lun Lun living in the United States to deliver a total of 7 cubs in 5 births in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2013. Besides, remarkable achievements have been made in the research on giant panda behaviors. Among those born babies, Mei Lan born in 2006 has returned to China and has become the global ambassador of Earth Hour, earning a world-wide fame.

Madrid Zoo in Spain

In September 2007, the Panda Base officially cooperated with the Madrid Zoo in Spain to launch an international cooperative breeding program for giant pandas. The bilateral cooperation has seen gratifying results.

The female giant panda Hua Zui Ba successfully gave birth to 6 cubs in 4 births in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2021. In September 2010, she successfully delivered a pair of twins which marked the first pair of artificially inseminated giant panda twins born overseas since China launched thelong-term international giant panda breeding cooperation plan with foreign countries. In November of that year, Queen Sofia of Spain visited giant pandas at the Giant Panda House at the Madrid Zoo and fed panda cubs with milk.

Beauval Zoo in France

On January 15, 2012, the male giant panda Yuan Zai and the female giant panda Huan Huan at the Base flew from Chengdu to Beauval Zoo in Francebya special plane, a move to carry out the Sino-French giant panda international breeding cooperation in research on key technologies for giant panda breeding and in preliminary research on their reintroduction into the wild. The bilateral efforts have enabled giant pandas living in France to successfully breed 3 cubs in 2 births.

On July 25, 2023, Yuan Meng, the first giant panda born in France, began hisjourney back to China. Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France, went to the airport to see him off, along with Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Macron; El Airy, Secretary of State for Biodiversity at the French Ministry of Ecological Transition; and Delors, Director of the Beauval Zoo in France.

Berlin Zoo in Germany

Sino-German international exchanges and cooperation on giant pandas kicked off in 2017. The two giant pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing selected from the Panda Base arrived in Germany on June 24, 2017, and moved into the Panda House of Berlin Zoo in Germanyon July 5 of the same year. On September 1, 2019, Meng Meng successfully gave birth to two cubs. This marked the first time in the history of Sino-German giant panda international cooperation that two countries have welcomed newborn cubs. The synergy efforts and close cooperation of breeding teams from both countries have ensured the healthy growth of the two cubs.

Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark

In 2019, the Sino-Danish International Giant Panda Breeding Cooperation Plan was officially launched. On April 4 of the same year, giant pandas Xing Er and Mao Er successfully flew from Chengdu to Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark bya special plane.

The success of the Base’s international breeding cooperation with foreign zoos has significantly and effectively contributed to promoting the development of global giant panda conservation research, and has also played an essential role in promoting international friendship andthe image of Chengdu, and boosting the city’s popularity.

Scientific Research Cooperation

Through various methods such as project funding, cooperative research, professional exchanges, technical support, and talent training, the Base has established an extensive network of international scientific research cooperation and long-term close ties in the field with many prestigious zoos, research institutions, conservation organizations, and universities in other countries and regions.

Scientific Research Exchanges

In recent years, the Base has carried out a series of international academic exchange activities and established extensive exchanges and cooperation with domestic and foreign wildlife conservation organizations, universities and colleges, research institutes, nature reserves, etc.

Over the years, ithas hosted the Annual Conference ofthe Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens Committee of Breeding Techniques for Giant Pandas– the most important global academic seminar in the field of giant panda conservation – inviting experts and leaders from domestic and foreign giantpandabreeding units and research institutions for academic exchanges and cooperation in a bid to promote the conservation of giant pandas and other endangered wild animals around the world.