Gan Yu

Gan Yu is a male giant panda born on June 27, 2017, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). He is listed as entry 1100 in the international giant panda studbook, the official global registry that tracks individual captive giant pandas to support evidence-based population management and avoid inbreeding. His lineage is formally recorded: he is the offspring of male giant panda Qin He (also documented under the name Bang Bang, studbook number 730) and female giant panda Xi Xiu, who holds studbook number 724. His full genetic profile is stored in the global captive giant panda genetic database maintained by the CCRCGP, contributing to the center's long-term efforts to preserve the genetic diversity of the captive population.

Since birth, Gan Yu has resided at the CCRCGP's Wolong facility in Sichuan Province, where he participates in the center’s core captive giant panda breeding and behavioral research programs. The CCRCGP is the leading global institution for giant panda conservation, with a core mandate to expand the size of the genetically healthy captive panda population as a buffer against threats to wild populations. Like other members of his species, Gan Yu exhibits typical giant panda behavioral patterns, with the majority of his daily activity period dedicated to foraging for and consuming bamboo, and extended periods of rest between feeding sessions.

Gan Yu holds both practical conservation value and public educational significance. His genetic data is regularly referenced in the CCRCGP’s population planning efforts, as his distinct lineage helps researchers make informed breeding pairing decisions to maintain the overall health of the captive giant panda gene pool. He is also regularly featured in the CCRCGP’s public educational content focused on giant panda conservation, helping to raise global public awareness of species protection efforts and the ecological importance of preserving giant panda habitats.