Panda Lead Corporate Sponsor:
Purchase Panda Cam, a book with images of Tai Shan's first seven months, at the National Zoo Store.
Earthquake Damages Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center, Donors Provide Relief (May 2008)
An earthquake that devastated parts of China severely damaged the Wolong Giant Panda Breeding Center (where our two adult giant pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, were born) and associated panda reserves.
2006: Another Record for Panda Births (December 2006)
Giant panda twins born at a zoo in late December bring the year's number of surviving cubs in breeding centers and zoos to a record-breaking 30.
Zoo Atlanta Panda Gives Birth (September 6, 2006)
Lun Lun, Zoo Atlanta's nine-year-old female giant panda, gave birth to a cub on September 6. This is Atlanta's first panda birth, and the fifth panda birth in the United States in the past six years.
Panda Sanctuary Added to World Heritage List (July 2006)
The home of one-third of the world's giant panda population has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
2005: A Record Number of Panda Births (November 2005)
The National Zoo's giant panda cub, Tai Shan, is one of a record-breaking 25 surviving cubs born around the world in 2005.
San Diego Zoo Panda Gives Birth (August 2, 2005)
Bai Yun, the San Diego Zoo's 13-year-old panda, gave birth to a cub on August 2. Her first cub, Hua Mei, born in 1999, gave birth to twins in China last year. Her second cub, Mei Sheng, was born in 2003. This is the first time both coasts are home to panda cubs.
Giant Panda Expectations 2005 (July 2005)
After closely monitoring Mei Xiang's hormones and behavior, Zoo scientists determined that the 2005 mating season would begin March 10. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian did not mate successfully, but Mei Xiang was artificially inseminated with Tian Tian's semen on the morning of March 11. Mei Xiang gave birth to a male cub on July 9.
Ancient Tomb Held Panda Bone (February 2005)
Archaeologists recently concluded that a bone discovered in a 4,000-year-old tomb in central China belonged to a giant panda.
Census Finds More Giant Pandas in the Wild (June 2004)
China's forests are home to 1,590 giant pandas, 40 percent more than previously thought, a Chinese government survey shows.
Zoo
Breaks New Ground for Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat
and Asia Trail (April 28, 2004)
The Zoo, FONZ, and Fujifilm broke new ground today, April 28, on the future site
of the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat, the first step in a 10-year renovation of
the Zoo.
April 2004 Is Panda Month (April 2004)
To celebrate the giant panda breeding season and the
groundbreaking on the new Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat,
April has been proclaimed "Panda Month" by the District
of Columbia. Activities and promotions will run all
month long.
Giant
Panda Expectations (August 22, 2003)
Ever since giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian
mated on April 4, 2003, everyone at the National Zoo—along
with many others in the Washington, D.C., area and around
the world—waited anxiously to know whether Mei
Xiang became pregnant. 
Find
out all the details of Mei Xiang's pseudopregnancy.
The
National Zoo, FONZ, and Fujifilm Celebrated the Five-millionth
Visitor to the Fujifilm Giant Panda Conservation Habitat
(July 15, 2003)
Susan Goi, a visitor from Singapore was the lucky
visitor to be named the symbolic five millionth.
Fujifilm
Cameras Donated to Zoo Scientists (May
2003)
Fujifilm recently donated two digital cameras to document
panda activity both at the National Zoo and overseas.
2003
Giant Pandas Breeding Season Over
(April 7, 2003)
Giant
Panda Expectations?
(April 2003)
Zoo giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang mated
once, for a brief 15 seconds, on April 4, raising a
slender hope that a baby panda may soon be in our midst.
Unfortunately, available tests can't tell whether a
female panda is pregnant or pseudo-pregnant, and the
time from mating to giving birth may vary from 95 to
180 days. Zoo scientists continue to chart hormonal
changes and monitor behavior for clues to the progress
of a possible pregnancy.
There's
good news out of China on wild giant pandas.
(Spring 2003)
Scientists recently found six giant pandas — five
adults and a cub — in a reserve in Shaanxi province,
just north of Sichuan where the majority of pandas live.
It being the 2003 breeding season, the males were reportedly
fighting to mate with a female. Another five pandas
were spotted the next day, but it's not clear whether
these were some of the same individuals.
Winner
of Fujifilm's "Meet the Pandas" Sweepstakes
(April 2003)
Biorythms
in Panda Pairs
(October 2002)
Newly published research reveals that the circadian
rhythms and activity patterns in Mei Xiang and Tian
Tian seem to mirror that of the Zoo's former panda residents
Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing and other pandas observed
in captivity.
Factors
associated with normal breeding behavior in male giant
pandas in Chinese breeding centers
(October 2002)
Research Indicates that normal breeding behavior in
male giant pandas is more likely in China due to exposure
to femal pandas throughout the year, privacy in their
environment and interaction with animal care staff,
among other factors.
Giant
Panda Reunion
July 25, 2002
Tian Tian and Mei Xiang, who had been separated
following Mei's possible spring estrus period, were
reunited on July 25, 2002. Their playful interactions,
as well as their ease in eating and resting together,
indicated to keepers that the pair can once again get
together daily.
Research
Symposium Summary
January 15-16, 2002
A giant panda research symposium held at the
National Zoo January 15 and 16, 2002 entitled "GIANT
PANDAS AND THE NATIONAL ZOO: From The First Year Into
The Future" was a fascinating look at what scientists
are most curious about with regard to the species. Find
out for yourself what questions are being investigated.
One
Year with Mei Xiang & Tian Tian
January 5, 2002
A photo essay highlighting the panda pair's first year
at the National Zoo. 8 pages.
National
Zoo Names Giant Panda Exhibit to Honor FUJIFILM'S $7.8
Million Donation to Support Pandas and Conservation
Education
January 10, 2002
Plans are underway for the construction of Mei Xiang
and Tian Tian's future home, officially named the "Fujifilm
Giant Panda Conservation Habitat." A larger space
with more climbing trees and water reflects the panda's
preferences in their current habitat.
