Jin Bao

Jin Bao, male giant panda with the international studbook number 1182, was born on July 6, 2019 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He is the offspring of father Mei Lan and mother Le Le, with his paternal lineage tracing to Gu Gu (studbook number 649) and maternal lineage to Xi Mei (studbook number 607), both captive-bred individuals housed in Chinese conservation facilities. His birth was part of China’s coordinated national giant panda breeding program, which prioritizes maintenance of genetic diversity to support the long-term viability of the global captive panda population, a core goal of national species recovery efforts for the once-endangered bear.

On his first birthday, July 6, 2020, Jin Bao was transferred to Beijing Zoo, where he has resided permanently since. He receives routine veterinary care and health monitoring administered jointly by Beijing Zoo staff and China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, in line with standardized protocols for captive giant panda management. His genetic profile is tracked in the global giant panda studbook database, which is referenced by breeding programs worldwide to avoid inbreeding and preserve the full genetic range of the species.

Jin Bao is a core participant in Beijing Zoo’s public conservation education programming, and draws thousands of domestic and international visitors each year. His public exhibit serves to raise awareness of the threats wild giant pandas face, including habitat fragmentation and climate change, while highlighting the successes of China’s decades-long giant panda protection initiatives. As a representative of the captive panda population, he also supports non-invasive research into giant panda feeding behavior, social interaction patterns, and physiological adaptation to captive environments, findings that inform both captive management practices and wild habitat preservation strategies. Giant pandas have been a global symbol of wildlife conservation since the World Wildlife Fund adopted the species as its logo in 1961, and individuals like Jin Bao continue to serve as accessible, high-profile ambassadors for global biodiversity protection efforts.