Fu Shun

Fu Shun, a male giant panda with the Chinese name 福顺 and international studbook number 1040, was born on July 14, 2016 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province, China. His birth was documented as part of the global captive giant panda management program, which systematically tracks the demographic and genetic status of all captive individuals to support species conservation efforts. Per official studbook records, his father is the well-documented male giant panda Mei Lan, placing his lineage within a carefully curated breeding pool designed to preserve maximum genetic diversity for the vulnerable species. Records of his pedigree and health history are maintained jointly by the Chengdu Research Base and the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, the leading governing bodies for captive panda management in China.

As of 2024, Fu Shun remains in residence at the Chengdu Research Base, where he participates in the institution’s core conservation, research, and public education programming. He exhibits all typical species-typical behaviors for a healthy adult giant panda, including a diet consisting primarily of multiple bamboo varieties and regular engagement in climbing and foraging enrichment activities provided by the base’s animal care team. His presence on public view at the base makes him a popular draw for both domestic and international visitors, with his daily activities often featured in the base’s educational materials and public outreach content designed to raise awareness of giant panda habitat loss and conservation needs.

Fu Shun’s role in the base’s managed captive breeding program contributes directly to long-term efforts to maintain a genetically robust, self-sustaining captive giant panda population. This captive population serves as a critical safeguard against extinction for the species, and supports potential future reintroduction initiatives for pandas into restored wild habitats in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. All breeding pairings involving Fu Shun are evaluated by a panel of conservation geneticists to avoid inbreeding and ensure the long-term health of the global captive panda population.