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Smithsonian's National Zoo: Giant Panda 50th Anniversary Media Resources
Included below are comprehensive resources for media on the 50th anniversary of the Giant Panda Program at the Smithsonian's National Zo ...
2022-03-16
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Celebrate the giant panda 50th anniversary! Make a gift today in honor of 50 years of giant panda care and conservation at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Find out what's happening in Georgetownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Celebrate the giant panda 50th anniversary! Make a gift today in honor of 50 years of giant panda care and conservation at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Included below are comprehensive resources for media on the 50th anniversary of the Giant Panda Program at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
For media inquiries, including to be added to our media list, email ZooSCBIcommunications@si.edu.
View a detailed history of giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Giant Panda FAQs
Download a detailed backgrounder on the giant panda program
View a detailed history of giant pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Giant Panda FAQs
Visit the news release archive to search for other press releases on the giant panda program.
Giant Panda 50th Anniversary Announcement
Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement Press Releases
The Zoo entered into its first Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in December 2000 when giant pandas Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male) arrived at the Zoo. The initial agreement between the Zoo and CWCA was a 10-year agreement and has been renewed three times since 2010.
Giant Panda Cub Births
- Xiao Qi Ji | Aug. 21, 2020Additional media resources on giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji
- Bei Bei | Aug. 22, 2015
- Bao Bao | Aug. 23, 2013
Giant Panda Departures for China
First Ladies of United States and China Name Giant Panda Cub at the Zoo
Visit the news release archive to search for other press releases on the giant panda program.
Giant Panda 50th Anniversary Announcement
Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement Press Releases
The Zoo entered into its first Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) in December 2000 when giant pandas Mei Xiang (female) and Tian Tian (male) arrived at the Zoo. The initial agreement between the Zoo and CWCA was a 10-year agreement and has been renewed three times since 2010.
Giant Panda Cub Births
- Xiao Qi Ji | Aug. 21, 2020Additional media resources on giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji
- Bei Bei | Aug. 22, 2015
- Bao Bao | Aug. 23, 2013
Giant Panda Departures for China
First Ladies of United States and China Name Giant Panda Cub at the Zoo
Media (news) outlets may use giant panda photos/videos for news purposes only with credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Approved purposes include: print/online articles, broadcast reports and social media feeds. Below is a YouTube playlist of giant panda video content.
The following footage is courtesy of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library:
Media (news) outlets may use giant panda photos/videos for news purposes only with credit to Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Approved purposes include: print/online articles, broadcast reports and social media feeds. Below is a YouTube playlist of giant panda video content.
The following footage is courtesy of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library:
Giant Panda Family at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Mei Xiang
- Adult female
- Name means “beautiful fragrance”
- Born July 22, 1998
- Arrived at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Dec. 6, 2000, on load from China
- Weight as of March 2022: 246.4 pounds (112 kilograms)
- She has given birth to four cubs: male Tai Shan, female Bao Bao, male Bei Bei and male Xiao Qi Ji. See below for more information on each cub.
- With the birth of her most recent cub (Xiao Qi Ji) at 22 years old, Mei Xiang is the oldest giant panda to give birth in the United States and the second oldest documented in the world. This is also the first time a Zoo in the United States has experienced a successful pregnancy and birth via artificial insemination using only frozen semen.
Tian Tian
- Adult male
- Name means “more and more”
- Born Aug. 27, 1997
- Arrived at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Dec. 6, 2000, on load from China
- Weight as of March 2022: 271.92 pounds (123.6 kilograms)
- He has sired four cubs: male Tai Shan, female Bao Bao, male Bei Bei and male Xiao Qi Ji. See below for more information on each cub.
Xiao Qi Ji
- Male cub
- Name means “Little Miracle”
- Born Aug. 21, 2020, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Weight as of March 2022: 117.48 pounds (53.4 kilograms)
Giant Pandas Born at the Zoo Now Living in China
Tai Shan
- Adult male
- Name means “peaceful mountain”
- Born July 9, 2005, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed for China Feb. 4, 2010
- Currently lives at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve (Shenshuping Panda Base) in Sichuan, China.
- He has sired one cub, an unnamed male born Aug. 19, 2020.
Bao Bao
- Adult female
- Name means “precious treasure”
- Born Aug. 23, 2013, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed for China Feb. 21, 2017
- Currently lives at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve (Shenshuping Panda Base) in Sichuan, China.
- She has given birth to three cubs—a female born Jul. 29, 2020 and twin males born Aug. 4, 2021.
Bei Bei
- Adult male
- Name means “precious, treasure”
- Born Aug. 22, 2015, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed Nov. 19, 2019
- Currently lives at BiFengXia Panda Base in Ya’an, China.
Giant Panda Family at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Mei Xiang
- Adult female
- Name means “beautiful fragrance”
- Born July 22, 1998
- Arrived at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Dec. 6, 2000, on load from China
- Weight as of March 2022: 246.4 pounds (112 kilograms)
- She has given birth to four cubs: male Tai Shan, female Bao Bao, male Bei Bei and male Xiao Qi Ji. See below for more information on each cub.
- With the birth of her most recent cub (Xiao Qi Ji) at 22 years old, Mei Xiang is the oldest giant panda to give birth in the United States and the second oldest documented in the world. This is also the first time a Zoo in the United States has experienced a successful pregnancy and birth via artificial insemination using only frozen semen.
Tian Tian
- Adult male
- Name means “more and more”
- Born Aug. 27, 1997
- Arrived at Smithsonian’s National Zoo Dec. 6, 2000, on load from China
- Weight as of March 2022: 271.92 pounds (123.6 kilograms)
- He has sired four cubs: male Tai Shan, female Bao Bao, male Bei Bei and male Xiao Qi Ji. See below for more information on each cub.
Xiao Qi Ji
- Male cub
- Name means “Little Miracle”
- Born Aug. 21, 2020, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Weight as of March 2022: 117.48 pounds (53.4 kilograms)
Giant Pandas Born at the Zoo Now Living in China
Tai Shan
- Adult male
- Name means “peaceful mountain”
- Born July 9, 2005, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed for China Feb. 4, 2010
- Currently lives at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve (Shenshuping Panda Base) in Sichuan, China.
- He has sired one cub, an unnamed male born Aug. 19, 2020.
Bao Bao
- Adult female
- Name means “precious treasure”
- Born Aug. 23, 2013, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed for China Feb. 21, 2017
- Currently lives at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve (Shenshuping Panda Base) in Sichuan, China.
- She has given birth to three cubs—a female born Jul. 29, 2020 and twin males born Aug. 4, 2021.
Bei Bei
- Adult male
- Name means “precious, treasure”
- Born Aug. 22, 2015, at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
- Departed Nov. 19, 2019
- Currently lives at BiFengXia Panda Base in Ya’an, China.
Download the giant panda family tree.
Coming Soon: From Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing to Xiao Qi Ji, celebrate 50 years of giant panda conservation and cuteness with our commemorative merch! The limited-edition collection will be available April 8-30, 2022.
cottagedoor_panda_bighead.jpg
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"Xiao Qi Ji" Bookends | Keep sweet cub Xiao Qi Ji close with panda bookends made in his likeness.
Coming Soon: From Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing to Xiao Qi Ji, celebrate 50 years of giant panda conservation and cuteness with our commemorative merch! The limited-edition collection will be available April 8-30, 2022.
cottagedoor_panda_bighead.jpg
-
"Xiao Qi Ji" Bookends | Keep sweet cub Xiao Qi Ji close with panda bookends made in his likeness.
- “Bei Bei Goes Home” Book | Follow the remarkable story of giant panda Bei Bei as he grows, plays and explores at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and beyond.
- "I Am A Panda" Book | Wiggle a finger puppet and follow a day in the life of a giant panda. (Ages 0-3)
- "Panda" Book | Learn about giant pandas’ habitat, favorite foods and caring for cubs. (Ages 0-3)
- "Welcome, Bao Bao" Book | This photo- and fact-filled book introduces kids to giant panda cub Bao Bao’s world! (Ages 8+)
- "The Animal Book" | Journey around the world with curious creatures, from waddling penguins to leaping frogs. (Ages 8+)
- "Smithsonian Zoology: Inside the Secret World of Animals" Book | Dramatic photography illuminates the fascinating stories behind animal adaptations. (All ages)
Below are high-resolution photos available to download for media purposes. They are listed in reverse chronological order. For individual photo captions, see slideshow at the top of the page. Below are high-resolution photos available to download for media purposes. They are listed in reverse chronological order. For individual photo captions, see slideshow at the top of the page.
This press release was produced by Smithsonian's National Zoo. The views expressed here are the author’s own.