Xing Ya

Xing Ya, a male giant panda with the global studbook number 876, was born on 1 July 2013 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. He is the offspring of two pandas born and raised at the Chengdu facility: sire Xi Ban, listed under studbook number 778, and dam Cheng Gong, listed under studbook number 721. Both of his parents are part of China’s official captive giant panda breeding program, established to support the long-term survival of the vulnerable species. For the first year of his life, Xing Ya resided at the Chengdu base, where he received standard care for captive-bred panda cubs and developed species-typical behaviors including climbing and bamboo foraging.

In July 2014, on his first birthday, Xing Ya was transferred to Ouwehands Zoo in the Netherlands as part of a long-term international cooperative conservation agreement. This program is jointly coordinated by Chinese wildlife management authorities and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, with core goals of supporting ex-situ panda conservation, conducting peer-reviewed scientific research, and delivering public education on giant panda ecology and habitat protection. Since arriving at Ouwehands Zoo, Xing Ya has received specialized care aligned with global best practice guidelines for captive giant panda management, with his diet consisting primarily of multiple bamboo species supplemented with nutrient-rich panda biscuits and occasional fresh produce.

Xing Ya has become a prominent conservation ambassador at Ouwehands Zoo, drawing consistent visitor attention that has contributed to increased public awareness of threats facing wild giant panda populations, including habitat fragmentation and climate change impacts on bamboo ecosystems. His participation in the international captive breeding program also supports a key conservation priority: maintaining and enhancing the genetic diversity of the global captive giant panda population, which serves as an insurance population should wild populations face catastrophic decline. All research and care activities involving Xing Ya are conducted in alignment with international species survival plan protocols, with data on his behavior, health, and dietary needs shared with global panda conservation networks to improve management practices for the species worldwide.