Su Su

Basic Profile

Su Su (Chinese: 苏苏, studbook number 312) was a female giant panda born in the wild in approximately 1983 in the mountains of Sichuan. She was rescued in March 1986 in Subao Township, Mabian County after being shot by poachers — iron pellets caused permanent blindness in her right eye.

She was named after Subao, the location where she was rescued.

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Early Years

Rescue and Surgery

Local conservation officers transported her overnight to the Chengdu Zoo for emergency surgery. Veterinarians removed the pellets and saved her life, but her right eye could not be saved.

The 25-Hour Miracle (1987)

During a routine exam under anesthesia, Su Su suffered a severe reaction — she stopped breathing for 3 hours and remained in a coma for 25 hours. A joint rescue team revived her, called a medical miracle in veterinary history.

Trip to Holland (1987)

Su Su became the first giant panda to visit the Netherlands, spending three months at Beekse Bergen Zoo alongside male Chuan Chuan.

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Breeding Legacy

Su Su gave birth to 3 litters, 5 cubs (3 surviving):

The Samaranch Connection

On July 26, 1992 — Barcelona Olympics opening day — Su Su gave birth to a male cub. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch personally named him “Ke Bi” (科比) after the Games’ mascot Cobi.

The Hama Family Founder

In 1994, Su Su gave birth to twin daughters Shu Lan and Mei Mei (#408). Mei Mei became the foundational female of Japan’s “Hama Family” at Adventure World, producing 10 cubs with Eimei.

Legacy

At her death, Su Su’s descendants numbered 53 individuals across 18 zoos worldwide across five generations.

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Death

On June 2, 2017, at approximately 34 years old, she died from geriatric multi-organ failure. Her frozen cells and semen are preserved for research.

Basic Profile

Su Su (Chinese: 苏苏, studbook number 312) was a female giant panda born in the wild in approximately 1983 in the mountains of Sichuan. She was rescued in March 1986 in Subao Township, Mabian County (苏坝乡) after being shot by poachers — the iron pellets lodged in her body caused permanent blindness in her right eye.

She was named “Su Su” after Subao (苏坝), the location where she was rescued.