Jin Yi

Basic Profile

Jin Yi (Chinese: 锦意, studbook number 673) was a female giant panda born on August 6, 2007 at the Ya’an Bifengxia Base of the China Conservation and Research Center.

Her mother was Jin Zhu (锦竹), and she had sisters Jin Xin (锦心, studbook 672) and Cao Gen (草根). She was described as having a short lower jaw (下颌发育较短小), a gentle temperament, and a love for interacting with people — she would often hug her keepers’ legs and act coy.

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Life Journey

National Day Panda (2009)

On March 9, 2009, Jin Yi was selected as one of the “National Day Pandas” (国庆熊猫) sent to Beijing Zoo for exhibition, representing the best of the breeding program.

Zhengzhou Zoo (2011–2014)

On March 17, 2011, Jin Yi was loaned to Zhengzhou Zoo — the second panda to reside there. She was popular with visitors, known for her gentle, playful nature.

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Death and Controversy

On February 7, 2014, Jin Yi stopped eating. Her condition deteriorated rapidly. On February 9, she died at 12:40 AM.

The controversy began when the zoo’s animal management chief told reporters on February 10 that Jin Yi had been sent back to Sichuan for mating. Only on February 13 did the zoo finally admit she had died — four days earlier.

Investigation

An autopsy revealed the cause of death: bacterial infection combined with toxoplasmosis causing acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, leading to shock and cardiopulmonary failure. Food was found lodged in her trachea.

The National Forestry Bureau investigated and found that the Zhengzhou Zoo’s panda enclosure was unsanitary and unfit for pandas, with disease transmission risks. The zoo was ordered to suspend all panda exhibitions and the remaining panda, Long Sheng (龙升), was recalled by CCRCGP.

Aftermath

Jin Yi’s death exposed systematic problems in zoo management. The head of the zoo’s animal management department was criticized for the misleading statements. The case remains a cautionary tale in panda conservation about the importance of facility standards and transparent communication.