Po

Po is a male giant panda born on November 15, 2012, at Zoo Atlanta, with the global giant panda studbook number 892. He is the offspring of Yang Yang and Lun Lun, two giant pandas residing at Zoo Atlanta at the time of his birth as part of a long-term Sino-U.S. collaborative giant panda research and conservation partnership. His birth was a notable outcome of decades of joint captive breeding efforts between Chinese conservation institutions and North American zoological facilities, which have contributed substantially to expanding the ex-situ giant panda population since the late 20th century.

Per the terms of the international giant panda cooperation agreement, Po was relocated to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2019, where he currently resides as a participant in the base’s structured ex-situ conservation breeding program. The relocation aligned with standard practice for captive-born pandas outside of China, which are returned to their native range once they reach breeding age to support genetic diversity in the managed captive population. As a captive-bred individual with confirmed, well-documented lineage, Po is considered a high-value contributor to the program, as his genetic profile helps reduce inbreeding risk in the wider captive panda population.

Po exhibits all typical behavioral and physiological traits of his species, including a diet consisting of over 99% bamboo and an average of 10 to 16 hours of resting time per day. He is a consistent draw for both domestic and international visitors to the Chengdu Research Base, with his public viewing habitat serving as an educational resource for visitors learning about giant panda ecology and conservation needs. Beyond his public appeal, he contributes to ongoing research projects focused on giant panda reproductive biology, nutritional requirements, and captive welfare, with study findings regularly applied to improve both captive management practices and conservation strategies for wild giant panda populations across their native habitat in central China.