Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a government-funded non-profit breeding and research institute for giant pandas, red pandas, and other rare animals, located in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987 by the Chengdu Municipal People's Government. It started with 6 giant pandas that were rescued from the wild. By 2008, it had 124 panda births, and the captive panda population has grown to 83.
Its stated goal is to "be a world-class research facility, conservation education center, and international educational tourism destination."
In February 2024, the institute made international headlines after it banned a 53-year-old male visitor for life for throwing unspecified objects into a giant panda enclosure.
Partnerships
Chengdu Panda Base has partnered with many organizations in improving ways to conserve giant pandas. For example, its partnership with Zoo Atlanta helped the zoo secure the loan of 2 giant pandas. To date, these two giant pandas, Yang Yang and Lun Lun, have produced five cubs: Mei Lan in 2006, Xi Lan in 2008, Po on November 3, 2010, twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan on July 15, 2013, and twins Ya Lun and Xi Lun on September 3, 2016.Other research partners include:
- Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan
- East Bay Zoological Society, Oakland, California, United States
- University of Liverpool, England, UK
- National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institution, United States
- National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., United States
- Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
- North of England Zoological Society, England, UK
- The Oakland China Wildlife Preservation Foundation, California, United States
- San Diego Zoo, California, United States
- University of Japan
- Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, UK
- Calgary Zoo, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Zoo/Tierpark Berlin, Germany