Si Hai

Si Hai (studbook number 1198) is a female giant panda born on July 26, 2019 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Her father is Xing Bao and mother is Qi Qi, with her lineage formally tracked in the global giant panda studbook administered by international captive breeding coordination initiatives. Her birth was part of a carefully managed captive breeding program designed to preserve genetic diversity across the ex situ giant panda population, a core component of global conservation strategies for the species.

Si Hai was transferred to Al Khor Panda House, also referenced as Doha Panda House, in Qatar on July 26, 2020, her first birthday, as part of a long-term cooperative conservation and research partnership between Chinese and Qatari wildlife institutions. The placement supports cross-national research into captive giant panda health, behavioral adaptation to novel environments, and dietary needs outside their native range, while also contributing to public education about giant panda conservation priorities for local and visiting audiences in the Middle East.

In her current residence at Al Khor Panda House, Si Hai exhibits species-typical behaviors including selective bamboo foraging, extended resting periods throughout the day, and exploratory play with environmental enrichment items provided by her care team. Regular health monitoring and observational data collected by both local and collaborating Chinese researchers are shared with the global giant panda conservation network to inform best practices for captive care across international hosting sites.

As a cultural and conservation ambassador, Si Hai serves as a highly visible representative of the collective success of global giant panda conservation efforts, which supported the 2016 downgrade of the species from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Her public presence also drives awareness of broader habitat protection initiatives for wild giant panda populations in their native mountain ranges in central China, alongside the critical role of international collaboration in supporting at-risk wildlife species long-term.