Gu Gu

Basic Profile

Gu Gu (Chinese name: 古古, studbook number 423) is a male giant panda born in the wild of the Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province, China on September 25, 1999. He was rescued as an injured juvenile by the Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue Center and later transferred to Beijing Zoo, where he has lived ever since. His parents are both wild pandas (studbook numbers 348 and 343), with no additional name records in the international studbook.

Life Journey

Wild Origins and Rescue

Born in the Qinling Mountains, Gu Gu was found injured and rescued at a young age. After rehabilitation at the Shaanxi Wild Animal Rescue Center, he was transferred to Beijing Zoo, becoming one of the few wild-born pandas housed in a major urban zoo.

The “Trespasser Biter”

Gu Gu gained national fame for a series of incidents between 2006 and 2009 where he bit visitors who jumped into his enclosure:

• 2006: A drunk man jumped into the enclosure to “hug the panda.” Gu Gu bit his calf, and the man required surgery. He later sued the zoo (unsuccessfully).
• 2007: A young man jumped in to retrieve a toy that fell into the enclosure. Gu Gu bit his leg.
• 2008: Another visitor jumped in and was bitten on the leg.
• 2009: A man jumped in and was bitten, sustaining injuries to his legs.

Each incident made headlines across China, spawning internet memes. The zoo repeatedly strengthened barriers and posted warning signs, but trespassers continued to provoke the enclosure. Gu Gu became a symbol of “don’t mess with wild animals” and gained a reputation as Beijing Zoo’s most formidable resident.

Public Icon

Despite — or perhaps because of — his fierce reputation, Gu Gu became one of Beijing Zoo’s most beloved attractions. He draws millions of visitors drawn by his wild-born origin and notorious track record. His long tenure at the zoo, spanning more than two decades, makes him one of the longest-residing animals at the facility.

Key Facts

• Species: Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: September 25, 1999
• Birth Place: Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province (wild)
• Studbook Number: 423
• Current Location: Beijing Zoo
• Status: Alive
• Distinction: One of the few wild-born pandas in a Chinese urban zoo; known for biting four trespassers (2006–2009)

  He is the offspring of wild giant panda male with studbook number 348 and wild giant panda female with studbook number 343. No additional records of his full parental names are held in the international giant panda studbook managed by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.
  
  Currently living at Beijing Zoo, he participates in public education programs for giant panda conservation. Beijing Zoo uses his profile to teach visitors about the difference between wild-born and captive-bred giant pandas, and the ongoing threats that face wild giant panda populations.
  
  As a bold, highly visible male giant panda, Gu Gu has become a well-known cultural icon of Beijing Zoo, drawing millions of visitors over his decades of residence. He contributes to research on wild-born giant panda behavior in captivity, supporting the scientific foundation of global giant panda conservation efforts.