Hua Bao

Basic Profile

Hua Bao (Chinese: 华豹, meaning “splendid leopard”), studbook number 867, is a male giant panda born on July 10, 2013 at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda’s Ya’an Bifengxia Base in Sichuan, China. His father is Yuan Yuan (园园) and his mother is Qian Qian (茜茜, also known as Xi Xi).

In Finland, he was given the local name Pyry, meaning “snowfall” or “blizzard” in Finnish, chosen through a public vote from over 4,000 candidate names. He was described by his keepers as a robust, active panda who enjoyed climbing trees.

Journey to Finland

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2017 state visit to Finland, Hua Bao was selected alongside female Jin Bao Bao (金宝宝, Lumi) to become the first giant pandas ever to reside in Finland, under a 15-year conservation research agreement.

On January 18, 2018, the pair departed from Chengdu aboard a dedicated KLM flight. Upon arrival at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, they were greeted by Finnish officials and escorted to Ahtari Zoo (Ähtärin eläinpuisto) in central Finland, where a specially built €8-million Panda House awaited them.

Life in Finland

Hua Bao adapted well to his Finnish home, with bamboo imported weekly from the Netherlands. The zoo’s “Snow Panda” concept highlighted that Finland’s climate closely resembled the pandas’ natural habitat. Despite multiple breeding attempts, Hua Bao and Jin Bao Bao never successfully produced cubs.

Return to China

Starting in 2021, Ahtari Zoo faced severe financial difficulties due to the pandemic, inflation, and rising interest rates. The annual cost of caring for the two pandas was approximately €1.5 million. In September 2024, after three years of negotiations, China and Finland agreed to repatriate the pandas early.

Hua Bao returned to China in November 2024 and now resides at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. tags:

• captive-bred
• finland
• overseas
• returned featured: false shortStory: | Hua Bao (华豹), studbook #867, also known as Pyry (皮吕) in Finland, is a male giant panda born on July 10, 2013 at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. His father is Yuan Yuan (园园, 488) and his mother is Qian Qian (茜茜, 476). In January 2018, he traveled to Ähtäri Zoo in Finland alongside Jin Bao Bao (金宝宝) — the first pandas ever to reside in Finland. He returned to China in November 2024 and now resides at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base.

Basic Profile

Hua Bao (Chinese: 华豹), known in Finland as Pyry (皮吕, meaning “Heavy Snowfall”), is a male giant panda born on July 10, 2013, at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base. He holds the global studbook number 867.

His father is Yuan Yuan (园园, studbook 488) and his mother is Qian Qian (茜茜, studbook 476). His siblings include Rong Rong (融融), Ying Ying (盈盈, 610), Mei Qian (美茜), Mei Xin (美欣), Yun Duo (云朵), and Ya Mei (雅美).

Personality

Hua Bao is described as sturdy, active, and outgoing. He enjoys climbing trees and has a somewhat impatient personality. Before his Finland trip, he had previously been on loan to Linyi Zoo in Shandong (2016-2017).

Journey to Finland

In 2017, China and Finland signed a panda conservation agreement. Hua Bao (male) and Jin Bao Bao (female) were selected as the first pandas to reside in Finland.

On January 17, 2018, the pair departed from the Dujiangyan Base for Ähtäri Zoo, Finland. An €8.2 million panda house was built for them.

On March 3, 2018, the panda house officially opened. Hua Bao received the Finnish nickname “Pyry” (皮吕) — a Finnish male name meaning “heavy snowfall.”

Return to China

In September 2024, due to financial considerations, both pandas were returned early. On November 23, 2024, Hua Bao arrived safely in Chengdu. He currently resides at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base.