Fu Fu

Basic Profile

Fu Fu (Chinese: 福福, studbook number 532) is a male giant panda born on August 25, 2001 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Wolong, Sichuan. He is the twin brother of Xiang Xiang (祥祥, sb531) — the world’s first captive-born panda released into the wild.

His mother is Quan Quan (泉泉/20号, sb414) and his father is Da Di (大地, sb394). As twins, Fu Fu and Xiang Xiang were among the early residents of Wolong’s panda kindergarten.

The Control Subject

When Xiang Xiang was selected for the historic rewilding experiment in 2003, Fu Fu was chosen as the control subject — remaining in captivity while his brother learned to survive in the wild. The brothers’ parallel lives provided crucial comparative data:

• Xiang Xiang: Rewilded → died in territorial fight (Feb 2007)
• Fu Fu: Remained in captivity → became a zoo resident and breeding male

This “twin study” design was unprecedented in panda conservation research.

Life in Fuzhou

In 2005, Fu Fu and another panda, Lin Yang (林阳, sb538), were transferred to Fuzhou Zoo (福州动物园) as the facility’s first giant pandas. The pair became instant stars:

• Fu Fu was described as large-eared, round-faced, and dominant — often pushing Lin Yang around
• Lin Yang was more submissive, leading to an amusing “bully and victim” dynamic
• Together they were Fuzhou’s most popular animal attraction

Move to Chengdu

In 2012, Fu Fu returned to Sichuan, moving to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. There he participated in the breeding program, siring cubs and contributing to the genetic diversity of Chengdu’s captive population.

With age, Fu Fu’s personality mellowed. Now in his mid-20s, he lives out his retirement at Chengdu Base as a beloved senior panda.