Wu Wen

Wu Wen, a female giant panda with the global studbook number 908, was born on August 9, 2013, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. She is the offspring of Mao Mao (studbook number 653) and You You (studbook number 656), both of whom are part of the Chengdu Research Base’s captive giant panda breeding program. The global studbook system tracks all registered captive giant pandas to maintain genetic diversity and support evidence-based population management, a core component of global ex situ conservation efforts for the species. Wu Wen spent the first year of her life at the Chengdu Research Base, receiving care from specialist keepers and developing the foraging and social behaviors typical of juvenile giant pandas in captive settings.

On August 9, 2014, her first birthday, Wu Wen was transferred to Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, the Netherlands, as part of a long-term international conservation cooperation agreement between Chinese and Dutch wildlife authorities. She currently participates in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) ex situ conservation breeding program for giant pandas, which coordinates breeding plans, veterinary care, and research across European institutions to support the long-term viability of the captive giant panda population. Care teams at Ouwehands Zoo monitor her health and behavior closely, working with partners in China to align her management with global species recovery standards.

In her current role at Ouwehands Zoo, Wu Wen displays natural giant panda foraging patterns, spending more than 10 hours each day consuming different bamboo species and supplementary nutrient-rich feeds tailored to her dietary needs. She is one of the zoo’s most high-profile animal residents, drawing millions of visitors from across Europe each year. Her presence supports a range of public education initiatives that teach visitors about giant panda ecology, the threats facing wild populations in China’s Minshan, Qionglai, and Qinling mountain ranges, and the importance of habitat protection. A portion of the revenue generated from panda-related visitor activities at the zoo is directed to in situ conservation projects in China, including wild giant panda habitat restoration and community livelihood support programs in regions adjacent to protected panda reserves.