Chi Chi

Basic Profile

Chi Chi (Chinese: 姬姬, studbook 110), originally named Qi Qi (碛碛), was a female giant panda born in the wilds of Baoxing County, Sichuan Province, China around the autumn of 1954. She was discovered on May 5, 1955 by a forest survey team from the East Sichuan Forest Management Bureau, who found her alone in bamboo forest after she had become separated from her mother. The team named her “Qi Qi” after the Qiaoqi Tibetan Township where she was found.

Beijing Zoo

On June 5, 1955, Qi Qi was transferred to Beijing Zoo along with two other pandas, Ping Ping (平平) and Xing Xing (兴兴). On July 1, 1955, Beijing Zoo opened its giant panda exhibition to the public for the first time, with the three cubs becoming instant attractions.

Journey to Europe

In May 1958, Austrian animal dealer Heini Demmer acquired Qi Qi from Beijing Zoo in exchange for three giraffes, two rhinoceroses, two hippopotamuses, and two zebras — one of the first international animal exchanges by the People’s Republic of China. Demmer intended to sell her to the Chicago Zoo, but the U.S. government banned her entry due to her “communist” origins.

Demmer took Qi Qi on an extended tour through Moscow (10 days), East Germany, West Germany, Denmark, and Copenhagen. Finally, on September 26, 1958, the British television company and London Television Council purchased Qi Qi for £12,000. She was renamed Chi Chi and settled at London Zoo, becoming the only giant panda in the Western world.

London Zoo Years

At London Zoo, Chi Chi became a massive celebrity. She drew a record 100,000 visitors in a single day. Her daily activities — eating bamboo, playing, and sleeping — were broadcast on live television, making her one of the first animal TV stars. Her diet included porridge, milk, fruit, sweet potatoes, beefsteak, and chicken.

The WWF Logo

In 1961, British ornithologist and conservationist Sir Peter Scott visited London Zoo and was inspired by Chi Chi’s appearance. He sketched her portrait, which was adopted as the official logo of the newly formed World Wildlife Fund (WWF, now the World Wide Fund for Nature). Chi Chi’s image became the most recognized conservation symbol in the world, still used by WWF today.

Failed Mating Attempts

In March 1966, Chi Chi was sent to Moscow Zoo to mate with the male panda An An (安安, #91), but An An was aggressive and the attempt failed. In August 1968, An An was brought to London Zoo for a nine-month “trial marriage,” but the two pandas frequently fought and the breeding program was abandoned. These failures highlighted the challenges of captive panda breeding and spurred international research into panda reproduction.

Death and Legacy

In March 1972, Chi Chi began showing signs of illness. By mid-July, her condition worsened with severe respiratory distress. On July 21, 1972, due to intractable pain, London Zoo veterinarians euthanized her. She died on July 22, 1972 at approximately 18 years of age.

Her body was preserved as a taxidermy specimen and is held at the Natural History Museum in London. Chi Chi’s legacy extends far beyond London Zoo — as the inspiration for the WWF logo, she became an enduring global symbol of wildlife conservation. In 1980, WWF signed its first formal agreement with China to support giant panda research and habitat protection.