Xi Lan

Xi Lan (Chinese: 喜兰) is a male giant panda born on July 29, 2008, at Zoo Atlanta, with the global captive giant panda studbook number 806. His birth was a milestone achievement of the long-term giant panda conservation collaboration between Chinese and U.S. wildlife institutions. His parents, Yang Yang (studbook number 591) and Lun Lun (studbook number 592), were on long-term loan from China to Zoo Atlanta at the time of his birth, and both are registered individuals in the international giant panda studbook system, which is maintained to coordinate captive breeding efforts and ensure the genetic diversity of the endangered species.

Following his first birthday on July 29, 2009, Xi Lan was transferred to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China, where he resides to this day. The Chengdu Research Base is a leading Chinese institution dedicated to giant panda captive breeding, conservation research, habitat restoration, and public education. As a participant in the base’s core breeding program, Xi Lan contributes to the carefully managed captive population of giant pandas, a key component of global efforts to prevent the species from facing further population decline.

Xi Lan’s cross-national life history has made him a prominent ambassador for international collaborative conservation work. He exhibits characteristic giant panda behaviors, devoting the majority of his daily activity cycle to foraging for and consuming bamboo, a trait that is regularly highlighted in the Chengdu Research Base’s public education sessions to inform visitors of the species’ unique ecological needs. His public profile also helps raise global awareness of the threats facing wild giant panda populations, including habitat fragmentation and climate change, and demonstrates the tangible positive impacts of cross-border institutional partnerships on endangered species protection. As of 2024, Xi Lan remains in good health and continues to be an active part of the Chengdu Research Base’s conservation and public engagement initiatives.