Jiao Qing

Jiao Qing (Chinese name: 娇庆) is a male giant panda born on August 23, 2010 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China. He is listed under studbook number 824 in the global giant panda studbook system, a formal registry that monitors the genetic diversity of the entire captive giant panda population to support sustainable breeding efforts. His parents are Xiong Bang, registered under studbook number 548, and Xiao Yatou, registered under studbook number 615, both of which are captive-bred individuals permanently housed at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

In August 2017, Jiao Qing was transferred to Zoo Berlin in Germany as part of a long-term collaborative giant panda conservation and breeding program established between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. The program is structured to facilitate scientific research on giant panda reproductive health and behavior, deliver public education programming focused on giant panda ecology and habitat protection, and direct a portion of associated revenue to in-situ conservation initiatives targeting wild giant panda habitats across six mountain ranges in central China.

As a high-profile resident of Zoo Berlin, Jiao Qing has become one of the facility’s most visited animal ambassadors, drawing millions of annual visitors and raising widespread public awareness of the threats facing wild giant panda populations, which are classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. His participation in the international breeding program also contributes directly to the maintenance of genetic diversity in the global captive giant panda population, a key component of broader conservation strategies that have supported the gradual recovery of wild giant panda numbers over the past two decades. His presence additionally serves as a symbol of successful bilateral conservation collaboration between Chinese and European conservation institutions, demonstrating how cross-border partnerships can drive tangible progress for endangered species protection.