San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s journey caring for giant pandas began 30 years ago, when a partnership with China was established to bring a pair of the black-and-white bears to the San Diego Zoo. Over the course of that partnership, six giant panda cubs were born. Between 2018 and 2019 our two adults, Gao Gao and Bai Yun, as well as their last offspring, Xiao Liwu, were returned to China. The information on giant panda reproduction that was generated by the San Diego Zoo team became instrumental for informing the conservation breeding of giant pandas. And the experience and knowledge surrounding giant panda health and husbandry gained between 1996 and 2019 has been invaluable in preparing for Xin Bao and Yun Chuan’s arrival to the San Diego Zoo.

Laying the Groundwork

Preparations started months before the giant pandas’ arrival and included reviewing our health protocols and engaging in extensive communications with the team from the Chinese Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP). A team of veterinarians had the incredible opportunity to travel to China in May 2024 to participate in the pre-transfer health examinations of Xin Bao and Yun Chuan at the Bifengxia Panda Base. Both pandas received a thorough hands-on physical examination, radiographs, ultrasound, and collection of samples for laboratory analyses. It was extremely helpful to be a part of these exams and assess their health in preparation for their arrival, as well as rekindle old and start new friendships with our Chinese giant panda conservation colleagues.

After Xin Bao and Yun Chuan’s arrival, our priority was providing opportunities for the two pandas to become acquainted with their new homes. They were given the time and the space to explore and experience their surroundings, ready their appetites for some novel species of bamboo, and develop bonds with their wildlife care specialists. 

During their acclimation period, wildlife care specialists, veterinarians, and nutritionists closely monitored and scrutinized many parameters, such as behavior, body weights, food consumption, and fecal output, of our new Zoo residents. In addition to redeploying our in-house expertise, two Chinese colleagues, Huang Shan, giant panda care specialist, and veterinarian Dr. Ling Shanshan accompanied Xin Bao and Yun Chuan from China to San Diego. Shan had been caring for Xin Bao and Yun Chuan prior to their departure from China and has a strong bond with the pandas. They stayed in San Diego for three months to assist with the care of our new pair of giant pandas. Both Xin Bao and Yun Chuan acclimated smoothly to their habitats in Panda Ridge.

Establishing a Routine

Caring for giant pandas includes a robust set of preventive measures for monitoring the bears’ health and establishing baseline normal parameters. Xin Bao and Yun Chuan received their annual vaccinations during their pre-shipment health evaluations prior to leaving China. 

Because San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance veterinarians were able to participate in the pre-transfer examinations of Xin Bao and Yun Chuan and there were no health concerns, quarantine examinations under anesthesia upon arrival in San Diego could be avoided. Instead, both giant pandas will receive routine evaluations under cooperation and under anesthesia, including computed tomography (CT) scans, to further document their current health status as a baseline for future health evaluations.

Giant pandas are generally predisposed to developing dental wear, osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular disease, especially with advancing age. As Xin Bao and Yun Chuan are young, we anticipate uncovering very few and only minor health problems until they start to age. Documenting their baseline health status while young and healthy allows veterinarians to recognize and track medical conditions as they begin to develop.

A Complete Panda Health Plan

Another important part of our preventive care program for giant pandas involves guiding behaviors to facilitate a variety of medical evaluations. Fortunately, giant pandas are quick learners. Xin Bao and Yun Chuan had already become accustomed to participating in blood sample collection in China, as this is a routine procedure in the giant panda care in the CCRCGP facilities. This allows blood samples to be collected without restraint. The results of the blood analyses then indicate if further examination is warranted.

We are supporting additional behaviors to facilitate other medical procedures. Vascular hypertension has been diagnosed in giant pandas. While hypertension is generally reported in older giant pandas, establishing baseline measurements in younger animals is helpful in monitoring trends over time. Therefore, we provide opportunities for Xin Bao and Yun Chuan to participate in various facets of their health care. Just as oral health is important for people, it is equally important for wildlife. Our giant pandas voluntarily open their mouths and allow wildlife care specialists and veterinarians to visualize their dentition and assess for dental wear.

This type of cooperation is also essential in facilitating behaviors to monitor reproductive physiology in giant pandas. Procedures include collection of samples for estrus monitoring and transabdominal ultrasound for estrus, pregnancy detection, and fetal monitoring. Xin Bao’s behaviors will be shaped to allow these evaluations without any form of restraint.

So much more is known about the health of giant pandas than 30 years ago because of collaborative work with our Chinese colleagues, as well as at other institutions outside of China. However, these amazing black-and-white bears still have much to share! We look forward to being on this lifelong health journey with Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. As with our prior giant panda residents, we will leverage any health insights gained from them toward understanding the health of giant pandas in native habitats in China. Exactly how we will do that is a story for another time!