PANDA PRESS 2017 - Pandas International
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P A N DA PR E S S
2017
1
Letter from the Director
Thank you for making 2017 yet another remarkable year for Pandas International!
This year marked 17 years of support for the Giant Pandas.
Thanks to you, panda cubs had nutritional formula, and full tummies. On behalf
of them, thank you for providing the care and formula they need to grow strong
and healthy. As they grow they will need bamboo, panda bread, vaccines, medical
treatment and enrichment activities all of which will be provided through your
support.
2017 was a Fabulous Year for 1st time corporate sponsorships! The donations
from Tsingtao, Slickdeals and Gishwhes totaled over $64,000.
In 2017, Pandas International received our first ever Lifetime Adoption, so a huge Thank You to the adopters of Bao Bao.
I would like to extend a giant Thank You to all the wonderful philanthropist kids who did Pennies4Pandas projects, held
panda birthday parties, dedicated their Bar mitzvah money to the pandas or donated in other ways- You are all Great.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to the staff of all the panda bases. The vets, keepers, lab
techs, Panda Club, office staff, reintroduction team and support staff work hard every day for our beloved pandas.
Colorado Gives Day is December 5, 2017, so please consider an end of the year donation on this day to keep our efforts
going forward in 2018. (See insert)
Our ongoing goal is to keep our overhead low while increasing our support for the pandas, and you truly make this
possible! Thank you for wholeheartedly being a part of the Panda Lovers Community. We are looking forward to much
more in 2018!
Suzanne Braden, Volunteer Director
What YOU made possible in 2017
Direct Support of the Panda Reserves’ (CCRCGP) four panda centers;
Wolong Nature Reserve Shenshuping Panda Centre, Gengda, Sichuan Province China
Wolong Nature Reserve Wenchuan, Hetaoping Reintroduction Base, Sichuan Province China
Bifengxia Nature Reserve Yucheng District, Ya’An City, Sichuan Province China
Dujiangyan Center for Disease Control, Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province China
Program Support for the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP)
• Adoption donations which help provide for the care and daily needs of the pandas
• Esbilac Milk Formula for cubs to thrive - 100 bags (2204 pounds)
• Enrichment items to stimulate their environment
• Staff Training in the labs at Dujiangyan by Dr. David Kersey and equipment for the new labs
• Staff Support and appreciation for the care for all the pandas
• Veterinary Equipment and supplies including large quantities of life saving vaccines and worming medications to
prevent the parasites from harming the pandas
• Surgical and hospital supplies
• Authorization and deposit to begin production of new transportation cages
• GPS collars and trackers vital to the reintroduction program and panda suits for training
2
Names of the 2016 Cubs
Name of Cub Meaning Gender Birthdate Mother
Tian Bao Treasure from Heaven Male June 2 Hao Hao
Qin Xin Heart of Qin Female June 16 Shu Qin
Chu Xin First Love Female July 30 Zhuang Mei
Xiao He Tao Little Walnut Female July 30 Zhuang Mei
Ru Yi Wishful Male July 31 Mei Xi
Mu Yun Cloud Female July 31 Mei Xi
Hong Xi Happiness Male August 4 Xi Dou
Pan Qing Expecting, green Female August 4 Xi Dou
Fu Feng Lucky Phoenix Female August 7 Yang Yang
Fu Ban Lucky Companion Male August 7 Yang Yang
Qiao Yi Qiao #1 Female August 11 Qiao Qiao
Qiao Liang Qiao #2 Male August 11 Qiao Qiao
Pang Niu Fat Girl Female August 17 Cui Cui
Pan Yue Expecting the Moon Female August 19 Yang Hua
Jie Rui Jerry Male August 26 Su Shan
Xiu Qiu Silk Ball Female September 5 Shui Xiu
Qin Qin Dear Male September 10 Mei Qing
Ai Ai Love Male September 10 Mei Qing
Yue Yue Moon Male October 10 You You
Ban Ban Half Female October 10 You You
* Information is to the best of our knowledge.
3
Travels in China – September 2017
This past September Karen Wille (PI board member and adopter) and Christie Harper (PI adopter) went to see Qi Zai.
This is Karen’s report on their visit.
I decided that it was time to meet a very special Giant Panda, Qi Zai – the only brown and white panda in captivity. Qi
Zai, now seven and ½ years old, lives at the Foping Nature Reserve located in the Shaanxi Province situated in the Qinling
Mountains of China. The reserve is home to four endangered/vulnerable species: the Giant Panda, Takins, Golden Snub-
Nosed Monkey and Crested Ibis.
It was an 8-hour car ride from Chengdu, with beautiful scenery along the way. The reserve has a Panda Themed Hotel
on the premises where we stayed. At night, it was wonderful to be lulled to sleep by the sound of birds and other
animals as well as the peaceful sound of the rushing river that runs through the reserve.
The highlight of the trip was meeting Qi Zai. We were very fortunate that he was active all morning during the day we
spent at the reserve. And his keeper, who has been with him since he was rescued at 1 ½ years old, spent time with
us, answering our questions and showing us videos that he had taken of Qi Zai over the years. It is interesting to note
that Qi Zai is a sub-species (Qinling Panda) to the Giant Panda (differences include a smaller skull, shorter snout, and a
smaller overall size). Qi Zai has a beautiful enclosure with 3 climbing structures, a pool, and special grass that his keeper
planted for him that is apparently a little sweeter than usual. His diet is also supplemented with a bowl of milk each day
which he really loves. His outdoor enclosure is large and they are currently renovating the enclosure next door to bring
in a female panda – perhaps a girlfriend for Qi Zai? I was enchanted by this very special panda. He’s very playful and so
handsome and it was such a joy to watch and spend time with him. Qi Zai is a very rare panda indeed.
Scientists guess that the brown and white coloring is due to some type of genetic mutation. Panda experts are planning
to find him a mate. Being able to observe and study the appearance of his child, researchers would get a step closer to
solving brown fur’s mystery.
If you find yourself traveling to China and have some extra time, I would highly recommend a visit to the Foping Nature
Reserve to meet Qi Zai. I’m so glad that I did!
4
Conservation Efforts of 2017
China’s Newest Solar Farm Has a Friendly Face
A new solar farm is opening up in China, and this one has a twist. The energy firm, Panda Green Energy Group, has
constructed the solar panels in the shape of a giant panda. In addition to building potentially dozens of solar farms, the
company hopes that the friendly panda faces will give Chinese citizens a greater appreciation and understanding of
solar power. Panda Green has also built an education center geared toward teaching children about the importance of
renewables.
According to the company, over the next 25 years the solar energy generated by this plant will reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by almost 3 million tons. If the company hits its goal of 12 gigawatts of solar energy by 2020 the company
could reduce CO2 emissions by almost half a billion tons over the next few decades. With any luck, these pandas might
just save us.
New push for “Corridors”
Although much successful work has been achieved in the captive breeding of the giant panda, the wild species is still
in serious trouble. Only around half of the population of wild pandas are located in nature reserves. Even within these
reserves the panda is at risk: illegal logging and agricultural encroachment means that the reserve’s forests are now
fragmented, existing as woodland “islands”, each surrounded by a sea of human activity.
The populations of panda marooned within these islands are tiny, normally 10 animals or less. It is generally
acknowledged that the minimum viable population (MVP) for large mammal species is around 50 animals. Any
population below this figure is regarded as non-viable, and will eventually succumb to the deleterious effects of
inbreeding. Denied the ability to migrate to new areas or “outbreed”, the mass of small, isolated giant panda populations
have no long-term future; and as it appears that every wild panda is isolated in this way, the future of the species in the
wild is bleak indeed.
One of the best ways of effecting interaction between marooned populations is by planting strips of natural forest, or
“green corridors.” Once established, these act as migratory highways, the animals gradually exploring the new long
stretch of secure habitat until they meet with members of their own species from the other isolated island. This is a
proven technique for several mammal species, although it has not yet been attempted with an animal as large as the
giant panda.
Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue & Research Center
©Zhao Peng Peng
Pandas International has extended our support for Giant Pandas by providing support for the Shaanxi Wild Animal
Rescue Center (SWARC) in Louguantai. You will remember the pandas that died from distemper outbreak in 2014-
2015 were at Louguantai. So PI began our support with distemper vaccines to insure no other pandas died.
In 2017, in addition to vaccines, PI has provided SWARC with reagents and formula for the three cubs which were
born in June of 2017. Fourteen-year-old Yang Yang gave birth to a male cub on June 11 and Ai Bang, gave birth to twin
male cubs on June 12. All three cubs are doing well.
5
Panda Adoptions
Adoptor Adopted Panda Nickname Country Adoptor Adopted Panda Nickname Country
Ana Buenaventura, Bao Bao* USA and Ellen Keely Su Lin, Ting Ting USA
Maria Frizzoni, Switzerland Tuan Tuan, Tuan
Charlene Johnson, Zi, Chun Qiao,
Roxanne Tran and Yuan Yuan, Yuan
Joey Tu Zai, Yue Yue &
Murcal and Abdullah Bing Jing UAE Zhen Zhen
Al Baker Walter Kopcza You You USA
Ayesha Alsaadi He He UAE
Carla Kwok Qing Qing China
Kelsey Anderson Ya Jun USA
Annie Lai Ning Ning Hong Hong Hong Kong
Frances Aronson, Zhen Zhen USA
Anne Belov & Rong Rong
Diana Sutton Gayle Lego A Jie & Min Min USA
Natalia Arduca Chun Qiao Lucy Arduca Australia Darlene Lewis Fu Bao Tree Panda USA
Alan and Kyle Bell Hua Mei USA Candice Li Bing Jing Taiwan
Daniel Bojmel Qing Qing USA Rui Lily Li Peng Peng China
Gail Bradley Tuan Zi USA Tong Tong
Suzanne and Jie Rui Jerry Jr. USA Carol Loveless Su Shan Hope USA
Jerry Braden Qing Feng Harvey Jr. Panda Lovers Wen Yu USA
Su Shan Sharon Ludwig Bing Jing Chun Chun III USA
Zhang Ka Evelyn
Carol Magidson Pang Niu USA
Bonnie Budwig Ao Ao USA
JoAnn & Joe Mann Wen Hui USA
William and Jin Ke USA
Jim Tupper and Bing Jing Joan UK
Karom Burke Lin Bing
Andi McLean Qing Shan An Di
Francis Chan Ying Xue Lin Lin Hong Kong
Patricia Millius Bao Bao USA
Chet Chin Feng Yi Yoong Ping Malaysia
Cynthia Murphy Hai Zi USA
Gong Gong Feng Er
Jim & Ashley Oberhofer Jia Jia Tammy Sue USA
Gong Zhu
Susan Corso Ping Ping USA Michael Lent & Canta Pian Ya Mei USA
Mark & Bonny Daniels Fu Long USA Johanna & Stephen Pond Bao Bao USA
Jeanette Deines Su Lin USA Rose Richards Su Shan Australia
Jeanette Deines and Zhen Zhen USA and Su Xing
Velia Watts Canada Mollie Rivera Hua Mei USA
Wayne Robinson Duo Duo Jasmine Australia
Anne Wescott Dodd Chun Qiao USA
Tuan Zi Tom and Monica Rogan Jin Ke Peter USA
Judy Dolan Huan Huan USA Quynh Le Nhu and Fu Long France
Qian Qian USA Oliver Schneegans
Port Allen Elementary Chu Xin USA Village School Tong Tong Village USA
Nart Fongsmut Wen Hui Thailand Selah Smith Su Xing USA
Nattaprapa Suriyamontol Ling Bing Thailand
Frele Family Chun Qiao Ki Ki USA
Cami Taylor Bing Jing USA
Maria Frizzoni Bei Bei Switzerland
Han Han Ron and Susan Telesko Ge Ge Su-Lin USA
Jun Zhu Ar-Lin
Susan Guill Ying Ying USA
Kim’s World Travel Ya Jun USA
Andi and Sean Haney Xin Xin USA
Gloria and Peter Harm Wen Hui Australia Shannon Tucholski Yi Ran USA
Christie and Todd Bao Bao USA Mary & Hayden Vinquist Hao Hao USA
Harper Zhen Zhen Nottaporn Visutasunthorn Lin Bing Thailand
Ceci and David Howes Yi Yun Canada Simon Westwood A Jie UK
Leslie Johnson Bei Bei USA Karen Wille Bei Bei USA
Charlene Johnson Shen Bin USA Linda Wroth Hai Zi USA
Jennifer Karie He He USA Judy Young Bao Bao USA
Ellen Keely Bing Jing, Hao USA Annette Yuen Ao Yun Ao Yun Yuen Hong Kong
Hao, Hua Mei, Si Jia Si Jia Yuen
Jia Jia, Shen Bin, Weiyi Zhang Qian Qian China
*LIFETIME ADOPTION
6
Village School Adopts Tong Tong for 12 Years
By Shea Morris
For over 12 years Village School kindergarten has
been “traveling” to China as part of our Global Studies
curriculum. Our traveling doesn’t actually involve leaving
Pacific Palisades, yet it does involve exploring various
aspects of the Chinese culture and a study of the Giant
Panda.
The students love learning about the panda. There is an
instant attraction. The kindergartners learn panda facts, do
panda art projects, read panda books, as well as participate
in a community service project related to our travels.
Pandas International became the focus of our community
service project as they were a USA non-profit directly
supporting the efforts to protect and help Pandas.
To raise money for Pandas International, the kindergarten students and kindergarten teachers decided to have a bake
sale with the profits going to Pandas International. The parents baked sweet treats and the kindergarten students sold
them with the first sale raising just over $500 allowing the Village School students to adopt Tong Tong. The next year
the students did the same thing and a tradition was started that still continues today. The Panda Bake Sale is held each
February and all treats are now sold for $1.00. The whole school is committed to the success as they remember learning
about Tong Tong when they were a kindergarten student. Most students now buy a couple treats and say, “Keep the
change.”
We have been raising over $1000 the past few years because of the entire community embracing Tong Tong. Much love
for Tong Tong does come from the fact that many students remember my participation in Hug My Baby. Hug My Baby
provided the school community with a stronger connection to Tong Tong. I was able to meet Tong Tong. I fed him and
observed him in his environment for quite a long time as well as gained so much from interacting with other adopters
and our tour guides who shared much about the culture with us. This year the first graders are already telling the
kindergarten students about the Panda Bake Sale and upper school students have stopped by asking me if I have any
new updates about Tong Tong. February will be here soon enough and I cannot wait to see how much we raise this year!
Village School loves Tong Tong.
Ceci and Davey Adopt for 5 Straight Years
By Tina Chen
Ceci (age 14) and Davey (age 10) Howes held their annual
“Save the Pandas” Fundraiser on September 4, 2017
in Winnipeg, Canada. It is a fun-filled event with panda
cupcakes, marshmallows, emPANaDAs cooked in an
outdoor wood-fire oven, and lots of panda-themed games.
They are thrilled that for the 5th straight year, they
raised enough money to adopt a panda through Pandas
International. In total, Ceci and Davey have raised $4,310
over the past 5 years!
Ceci and Davey held their first fundraiser in 2013, after
they spent a month in Chengdu. While in Chengdu, they
visited the Chengdu Panda Base several times. This
led them to research pandas and the reasons pandas
became an endangered species. Ever since then, they like
to share information about pandas and what everyone
can do to protect their favorite animal and safeguard the
environment pandas need to survive. Ceci and Davey also
enjoy involving friends in their annual fundraiser and are
thankful for the support of various communities.
7
Amazing Step to improve Genetic Diversity and
the Reintroduction Program
Cao Cao, who for the last seven years has lived at CCRCGP’s
Hetaoping panda reintroduction center, where she demonstrated
strong adaptability to living in the wild, became the first captive panda
to mate with a wild panda.
The world’s first giant panda cub with both captive and wild parents
was born on July 31 in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The 15-year-old female giant panda Cao Cao gave birth to the cub at
the Hetaoping semi-wild training base. She started to show signs of
pregnancy on July 1 and went into labor on July 30.
The cub marked great success in experiments to encourage captive
pandas to mate with wild pandas in order to increase the genetic
diversity of the captive population, according to Zhang Zhizhong, of
the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
(CCRCGP).
The female cub weighed 216 grams, compared to the normal
newborn weight of around 150 grams. Wu Daifu head of the base
attributed the cub’s unusually high weight to the good health and
appetite of the mother during pregnancy.
Wearing a GPS collar, provided by Pandas International, Cao Cao, was
released into the wild on March 1st where she lived for nearly two
months.
The CCRCGP launched an experiment in late 2016 to bring in genes
from the wild population to make the captive pandas healthier. As of
the end of last year, the worldwide captive giant panda population
stood at 471, leading to growing concerns of inbreeding, Wu said.
Zhang Hemin, deputy head of the center, said babies from captive
and wild parents would enrich the gene pool of the captive stock.
We are extremely proud to support CCRCGP’s ground breaking
efforts in this genetic diversity project.
All images © www.news.cn
8
Reintroduction
Just recently, Zhang Xiang, who was released on Nov. 6, 2013
was recaptured for a physical examination. She is healthy and
was released back to the wild at 2AM on Sept. 29th. It took
the research team 2.5 months to find her. She was 40 kg
when she was released to the wild in Nov. 2013, and now she
is 87 kg - cause for celebration.
Since the reintroduction program was revamped in 2010, six
pandas have been released into their natural habitat. Five of
them are still currently thriving in the wild.
2012- Tao Tao was released. His mother was Cao Cao.
2013- Zhang Xiang was released. She is Su Shan’s twin sister
and their mother is Zhang Ka.
Zhang Xiang in 2013 before she was released
2014- Xue Xue was released but died 1 month later. Xin Yuan fell ill and passed away before being released.
2015- Hua Jiao was released. Her mother is also Cao Cao making Tao Tao her brother.
2016- Hua Yan was released (the first 3 year old released, the rest of the pandas were all 2). Her mother is Ye Ye.
2016- Zhang Meng was released. Her mother is also Zhang Ka. She is siblings with Zhang Xiang and Su Shan.
2017- Two more pandas are scheduled to be released this year.
Tao Tao Hua Jiao
Hua Yan Zhang Meng
9
Update on Status and Panda Habitat
A new report in the Journal of Nature Ecology & Evolution states that the panda habitat is severely fragmented
which places wild pandas at great risk. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-017-0317-1)
You will remember that last year, giant pandas were downgraded from an “endangered” status to “vulnerable”.
But the new study in the journal suggests those gains may be short lived if more attention isn’t paid to the
animal’s habitat, which is becoming increasingly fragmented.
China has taken major steps toward protecting pandas and the other animals who share their habitat. They have
established 67 panda preserves and captive breeding programs, but there are problems which still exist.
Roads, Road Construction and
Power Plants
Expanding human populations require more and
more roads which then fragments the bamboo
forests, the wild panda’s habitat, creating smaller and
smaller areas for panda populations. Graphics in the
report show a dramatic increase in roads throughout
the panda habitat. Pandas avoid areas with roads,
traffic or construction.
Professor Zhang Hemin of CCRCGP, who said the
upgrade was premature, stated that the wild pandas
are broken up into 30-33 isolated populations.
Some of these populations have between 10 and 18
individuals. These isolated populations face a high
risk of extinction.
Creating corridors is something that has been talked
about for decades, but is now urgent.
10Wildlife Grazing in Reserves
In 1999, China banded logging operations in panda habitat, which lead to an improvement in the bamboo forests,
but now there is a new major significant problem- wildlife grazing in the panda reserves and disseminating the
bamboo. The wild pandas face competition from livestock.
Increased livestock grazing in China’s Wanglang National Nature Preserve has damaged one third of the habitat in
the park, according to a new study by Chinese and U.S. scientists finds. Binbin Li, assistant professor at Duke
Kunshan University’s Environmental Research Centre, who led the study, stated that the number of livestock inside
the reserve has caused tremendous impact on the bamboo. Bamboo makes up 99 percent of the giant pandas’
diet.
Since the end of logging the amount of livestock with in the reserves has increased nine-fold over the last 15 years,
as the locals try to find new ways to support their families.
In the Wolong Nature Reserve, home to two CCRCGP panda bases, horses belonging to farmers have been found
grazing on bamboo, within the reserve. The horses were set loose in the reserve.
Horses have been banned from the reserve but may not be totally removed.
Tourism
In recent years, tourism has expanded in
China and in the panda’s home area. Tourists
who trek to try to see wild pandas visit areas
which should be preserved solely for strict
conservation.
Mostly the sheer number of Tourists disrupt
the region. Tourism increases the need for
roads and might also promote more meat
consumption which increases the problem
with livestock grazing.
photo ©Li Binbin
Climate Change
Temperature increases, in
China over the next cen-
tury, are predicted to affect
bamboo growth. It is not yet
known if bamboo can move
to new habitats at higher
elevations which would give
pandas a chance. Some
scientists are also concerned
that an increase in tempera-
ture may lead to early flower-
ing of bamboo plants which
would devaste the pandas
main food source.
11Basi the world’s oldest giant panda in captivity dies at 37
The world’s oldest captive giant panda Basi died on September
14th. “With a heavy heart, we solemnly announce today that giant
panda star Basi died at the age of 37,” an official in Fuzhou said.
She lived to the equivalent of more than 100 years old in human
years, surpassing all other pandas she lived with in captivity. The
expected life span of pandas in captivity is usually up to 30 years,
so she had a long full life. Director Braden visited Basi in 2016 and
expressed great sadness at her passing.
Basi was known as a beautiful panda and in Fuzhou if a woman
was beautiful they would say she is very Basi.
© China Daily/via REUTERS
Mark your calendars
Pandas International will host its annual Chinese New Year’s
Dinner, on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Our 18th Annual
Dinner will be held in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
For more information, please check our website.
Please Help Us Thank and Support our Panda Partners
Bamboo Forest Bamboo Shoots Bamboo Leaves
Partners Partners Partners
Explore.org Accessory Power
Gift Republic Erica Vojnich Hogan Lovells, LLP
Kenny Flowers
Gishwhes Kim’s World Travel Mori
Slickdeals SpiritHoods LLC Pandaloon
Panda Paw
Tsingtao Suncor Energy Swole Panda
Tobi
Under the Skin
Please contact us if you are a business that wishes to sponsor us and be Youngsies
listed on the Panda Partners page along with a direct link to your website. ZooHood
Monthly Donations are a simple easy way to help the pandas. For as little as $10.00 you can sign up for
automatic donations for 2018. Just go to the Donate Today Button on our website, enter the amount and click
the box – “Make this a Monthly Donation”. The Pandas will Thank You!
Email us at info@pandasinternational.org or call us at 303-933-2365.
Visit us online at www.pandasinternational.org
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