Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

Breeding in managed care

• Much has been learn about giant panda mating and reproductive behavior from managed breeding programs (Wei et al. 2015)
• Breeding success had been historically poor in managed care
• Studies of pandas' natural behaviors have significantly improved panda breeding, pregnancy, and cub rearing successes (Swaisgood et al 2003b)
• Wolong Panda Center at Gengda has the most successful breeding program
  • Facilities: a breeding center, areas for public viewing, and facilities dedicated to rescue, reintroduction, and the study of panda diseases
• Milestones in managed breeding
  • First managed care birth in 1963, Beijing Zoo
  • First successful artificial insemination - 1978, Beijing Zoo
  • Bai Yun at the San Diego Zoo gave birth to six cubs between 1999 and 2013
• Natural mating behaviors should be promoted; accounting for mate preferences increases reproductive success (e.g., Martin-Wintle et al. 2015)
  • Pandas exposed to odors of possible mating partners up to several weeks before introduction; less aggression, more sexual interest resulted
  • Behavioral signs of estrus monitored
  • Possibly receptive female moved to pen near male
  • Pen swaps allow direct inspection of odors by both pandas
  • Behavioral cues of readiness for mating include frequent bleating by male and female
  • More cubs produced when mating with preferred partners
  • Personality traits should be considered in determining mate compatibility (Martin-Wintle et al. 2017)
    • Aggressiveness, fearfulness, and activity patterns influence mating success and cub production

Management

• Management programs have been successful (Swaisgood et al 2003a)
  • Programs researched and established feeding strategies that model bamboo feeding in wild
  • Opportunities for panda-appropriate social interaction and communication
  • Exposure to novel objects that encourage play and exploration
• Mother panda's care is emphasized when at all possible
  • Practice begun of removing one twin for human care for 2-4 days
  • Cubs then switched, so that both can have mother's care
• Enrichment opportunities increased through
  • Larger pens with more space (including vertical space)
  • New textures
  • Additional mobile and non-mobile furnishings
  • Range of choices for lighting and temperature
  • More complex environment for finding extra, special food items
    • Bermuda hay, pieces of carrots and yams, apple slices
  • Scents, such as cinnamon and wintergreen
  • Multiple feedings per day of vital bamboo - given at unpredictable times

Highlights of pandas in managed care

• 206 BC-AD 24, Han dynasty
  • Panda is the most highly treasured animal in the emperor's garden
    • Collection in Xian held 40 rare animal species
• 1937-1938
  • First live panda transported out of China
    • On loan to Chicago Zoological Park
• 1937-1946
  • 14 pandas sent to western zoos during this period
• 1963
  • First managed care birth occurred in Peking Zoo, Beijing, China (Zhu et al. 2001)
• Before 1984
  • Pairs were sent as state gifts by Chinese government to other governments
• 1984-1989
  • Non-breeding pairs exported to zoos in Europe, North America and Asia for short-term exhibition loans
• 1986
  • AAZPA issues guidelines for short-term loans to ensure that pandas are not being removed from breeding programs in China or recently taken from the wild
• 1987
  • AAZPA establishes Giant Panda Task Force to collaborate with US Fish & Wildlife, IUCN/SSC, CBSG and Chinese Government
• 1992
  • First International Panda Studbook completed to assist in breeding programs
• 1993
  • AAZPA Giant Panda Conservation Action Plan completed. A consortium of 28 zoos formed to share in research and study of future panda loans
• 1995
  • US Department of Interior Secretary, Bruce Babbitt, approves first 5 years of a 12-yr panda loan to the San Diego Zoo. Research plan includes study of panda communication, reproduction and other aspects of behavior
• 1996
  • Woolong Nature Reserve sent a male and female panda to San Diego Zoo for their first long-term loan to a foreign institution
• 1996-2003
  • Number of pandas at Wolong increased from 25 to more than 70, mostly from successful captive breeding (Swaisgood et al. 2004)
• 1999
  • San Diego Zoo successfully uses artificial insemination techniques and Hua Mei is born 8/21

Historical Notes

• First Giant Pandas arrived at San Diego Zoo in 1988
  • 2 males, Buan Yuan and Basi
• Births at San Diego Zoo
  • 1999 - female Hua Mei was born
  • 2003 - male Mei Sheng was born
  • 2005 - female Su Lin was born
  • 2007 - female Zhen Zhen was born
  • 2009 - male Yun Zi was born
  • 2013 - male Xiao Liwu was born

Giant panda cub 'Xiao Liwu' (c. 1 month old), San Diego Zoo.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Dolan (1989)
Foose (1986)
Klieman (1993)
Martin-Wintle et al. (2015, 2017)
Reid & Gong (1999)
Schaller (1994)
Swaisgood et al (2003a, 2014, 2016)
Wei et al. (2017)