Gao Gao

Gao Gao is a male giant panda born on 1992-09-01 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. He was captured in the wild as a subadult before being transferred to his long-term captive home, and holds studbook number 486 in the global giant panda studbook registry. He is the offspring of wild male giant panda (studbook 354) and wild female giant panda (studbook 355). He sired five offspring during his time in captivity, including the well-known giant pandas Mei Sheng and Su Lin. Currently living at San Diego Zoo, he participates in the collaborative international giant panda conservation breeding program managed by the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The program focuses on maintaining genetic diversity for the vulnerable giant panda species. As an individual wild-born giant panda, Gao Gao contributed valuable genetic diversity to the captive giant panda population. He was a popular attraction at San Diego Zoo, introducing millions of visitors to giant panda conservation. His role in the breeding program supported global efforts to protect giant pandas native to China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.