Hua Mei

Hua Mei is a female giant panda born on 1999-08-21 at San Diego Zoo. She is the 487th individual registered in the international giant panda studbook, and was the first giant panda born in North America via natural mating to survive past infancy. She is the offspring of Pan Pan and Bai Yun. Pan Pan, a male giant panda with studbook number 381, was a prolific breeder whose genetic lineage appears widely in the global captive giant panda population. Bai Yun, a female giant panda with studbook number 418, resided at San Diego Zoo for 17 years before being relocated to China. Currently living at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, she participates in the center’s captive breeding program for the species. The program focuses on maintaining genetic diversity within the captive giant panda population and supporting reintroduction efforts for wild populations. As the first surviving giant panda born in the United States, Hua Mei gained significant public attention that raised global awareness of giant panda conservation. She displays typical giant panda foraging behaviors, primarily consuming bamboo, and has produced multiple captive offspring that contribute to the species’ conservation genetic diversity. Her cross-institutional residency between the United States and China highlights international collaboration for giant panda protection.