Shi Shi

Basic Profile

Shi Shi (Chinese: 石石, studbook number 381), whose name means “Rock” in Chinese, was a male giant panda born in the wilds of Sichuan Province, China around 1982. He was rescued from the wilds of Wenchuan County, Sichuan on March 30, 1992, after being found severely wounded — likely from a fight with another male panda over territory or a mate. He underwent three surgeries to recover. His wild parents are unknown.

Life at San Diego Zoo

In 1996, Shi Shi was selected for the groundbreaking Sino-US giant panda cooperative research program and sent to San Diego Zoo as a mate for Bai Yun (白云, studbook 371). They arrived on June 10, 1996, becoming the first giant pandas to reside at San Diego Zoo.

Shi Shi showed little natural interest in breeding with Bai Yun. Zoo researchers successfully performed artificial insemination using his sperm, a pioneering technique for panda reproduction at the time. On August 21, 1999, Bai Yun gave birth to Hua Mei (华美), the first giant panda cub born and surviving to adulthood in the United States. Hua Mei was named by Chinese Ambassador Li Zhaoxing, combining “China” (华) and “America” (美).

It was later determined that Shi Shi was significantly older than originally estimated. He was replaced as Bai Yun’s mate by the younger Gao Gao (高高) in 2003.

Return to China

On January 9, 2003, Shi Shi returned to the Wolong Panda Research Center. Later that year, on September 26, 2003, he was transferred to Guangzhou Zoo (also known as Xiangjiang Safari Park), where he lived out his remaining years. By this time, he was totally blind but otherwise healthy.

Death and Legacy

Shi Shi died on July 5, 2008 at Guangzhou Zoo, estimated to be around 26 years old. Through his only offspring Hua Mei, who later produced six cubs (including Tuan Tuan, one of the pandas gifted to Taiwan), Shi Shi’s genetic legacy continues in the global captive panda population. He was one of the first wild-born pandas to participate in the international cooperative breeding program, demonstrating that AI could overcome natural breeding incompatibilities.