Mao Tao

Mao Tao is a male giant panda born on 2014-07-26 at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. He is registered as studbook number 587 in the global giant panda studbook system, and is one of 500+ captive giant pandas maintained in breeding programs across China. He is the offspring of Ba Xi (studbook 649) and Ying Hua (studbook 652), both resident giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding at the time of his birth. Both of his parents are descended from wild giant pandas captured in the Qinling Mountains to support captive breeding initiatives. Currently living at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province, China, he participates in the coordinated captive breeding program for giant pandas run by the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The program focuses on maintaining genetic diversity for the species to support future reintroduction efforts. As a subadult, Mao Tao demonstrated skilled foraging behavior for bamboo, the primary diet of all giant pandas. He is a common attraction for domestic and international visitors to the Chengdu base, and represents the success of decades of captive conservation work for the vulnerable giant panda species.