Gong Zhu

Gong Zhu is a female giant panda born on 11 September 1998 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Her studbook number is 473, and she is a documented captive-bred individual managed under global giant panda population coordination. She is the offspring of Pan Pan (studbook 354) and Li Li (studbook 337). Both of her parents were long-term resident giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Currently living at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, she participates in the base’s public education and ex-situ conservation programs for giant pandas. As a mature adult giant panda, she is a familiar individual for visitors to the Chengdu facility. Gong Zhu displays the species-typical giant panda traits: primarily bamboo-based foraging and gentle, solitary behavior. She is a popular attraction for domestic and international tourists visiting Chengdu, supporting public understanding of giant panda conservation. Her participation in the captive breeding program contributes to the long-term genetic diversity of the global captive giant panda population, which supports overall species recovery efforts in China.