Eimei

Eimei, known in Chinese as Yong Ming, is a male giant panda with the international studbook number 384. He was born on September 14, 1992, at Beijing Zoo, the offspring of Yong Ling and Hong Hong, two wild-born giant pandas captured from the Qinling Mountains before being integrated into China’s captive breeding program. He was transferred to Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan on September 14, 1993, as part of the Sino-Japanese giant panda cooperative conservation breeding program, where he resided for 29 years until his death in 2023 at the age of 30. This lifespan makes him one of the longest-lived captive male giant pandas on global record, far exceeding the average 20-year life expectancy for captive male individuals of the species.

Throughout his time at Adventure World, Eimei emerged as a highly prolific breeding sire, fathering more than 10 giant panda cubs that survived to adulthood. His offspring contributed significantly to strengthening the genetic diversity of the global captive giant panda population, a key priority for species conservation efforts given the limited genetic pool in managed breeding programs. Beyond his breeding contributions, he served as a core public education resource at the facility, with his regular public viewings helping to educate millions of visitors on giant panda ecology, habitat threats, and the importance of cross-border conservation collaboration.

Eimei’s cultural and conservation significance extended far beyond his role in breeding programs. He became one of Adventure World’s most iconic attractions, drawing consistent tourist traffic to the region and fostering public enthusiasm for endangered species protection in Japan. His decades-long presence in the Sino-Japanese cooperative program also served as a quiet symbol of successful international wildlife collaboration, demonstrating how shared stewardship of vulnerable species can support both population recovery and cross-cultural public engagement with conservation issues. Even after his passing, his genetic legacy continues to support the long-term viability of the global captive giant panda population, and his public impact has informed ongoing education initiatives at the facility where he spent most of his life.