An An

An An (Chinese name 安安, studbook number 469) was a male captive-bred giant panda born on December 28, 1999, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. His mother is not confirmed in available records. His father was listed as studbook number 324, both part of the Chinese national giant panda conservation program’s managed breeding population. Official records of his lineage and life history are maintained in the global giant panda breeding management system, the standard reference for coordinated captive panda conservation efforts worldwide.

In 2007, An An was transferred to Ocean Park Hong Kong under a collaborative partnership between the park and the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where he resided until his death in 2022. Contrary to an earlier unsubstantiated transfer record listing a 2000 relocation, official institutional records confirm his 2007 arrival as the correct start of his tenure at the Hong Kong facility. Throughout his time at Ocean Park, he was part of the park’s formal giant panda public education programming, with care protocols jointly developed and monitored by both partner institutions to align with global captive panda welfare standards.

An An was noted for his docile temperament, which made him a popular draw for visitors to the park over his 15 years in residence. He served as an informal conservation ambassador for the giant panda species in southern China, helping to raise public awareness of habitat loss threats and the importance of coordinated species recovery efforts. Long-term observations of his behavior, health, and public engagement impact during his stay at Ocean Park have contributed valuable empirical data to global research on captive giant panda husbandry best practices and the effectiveness of wildlife public outreach programs. His legacy remains tied to cross-institutional conservation collaboration and public education efforts across the Greater China region.