Place archive

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located in Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is a world-leading ex situ conservation institution for *Ailuropoda melanoleuca* (giant panda) and *Ailurus fulgens* (red panda). Nestled at the eastern foothill of the Qionglai Mountains, a core giant panda habitat listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the base works closely with Wolong National Nature Reserve, Qinling Giant Panda National Park, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences to implement species recovery programs aligned with IUCN Red List guidelines and CITES regulatory frameworks. As of 2024, the base hosts over 240 captive giant pandas, accounting for nearly 15% of the global captive population of the species. The base has established long-term research collaborations with global institutions including the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, University of Edinburgh, San Diego Zoo, and Berlin Zoological Garden, focusing on areas such as panda reproductive biology, genetic diversity management,

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a CCRCGP-affiliated ex-situ conservation facility contributing to the coordinated captive breeding program that maintains genetic diversity across the global giant panda population.