|
London Zoo
London, United Kingdom
Official website: www.zsl.org
Giant Panda Zoo 1938-1994
London Zoo
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was founded by Stamford Raffles in 1826. The zoo houses more than 650 species. ZSL London Zoo participates in breeding programmes for 130 species.
History of Giant Pandas in London
London Zoo had 12 giant pandas: Ming, Sung, Tang, Happy, Grandma, Lien Ho, Chi Chi, An An, Chia Chia, Ching Ching, Ming Ming & Bao Bao
Tangier Smith's pandas - Ming, Sung & Tang - Happy - Grandma
In September 1938 Floyd Tangier Smith captured 6 giant pandas in the Chinese Sichuan Province. They were shipped from Shanghai to the United Kingdom. Five pandas arrived in London on December 24, 1938. One panda died from internal lesions on the transport.
one died in the quarantine station of London Zoo and three were sold to London Zoo.
Grandma (female) was born approximately in August 1936.
She has studbook number 8.
Grandma died in the quarantine station of London Zoo on January 9, 1939.
London Zoo bought 3 giant pandas, Ming, Sung & Tang, from Smith.
Tang (male) was born approximately in September 1936.
He has studbook number 6.
Tang died on April 23, 1940.
Sung (male) was born approximately in September 1936.
He has studbook number 7.
Sung died on December 18, 1939.
Ming (female) was born approximately in September 1937.
She has studbook number 9.
Ming died on December 26, 1944.
During World War II the pandas spent their time partly at London Zoo and partly at Whipsnade Park.
Happy (male) was born approximately in September 1935.
He has studbook number 5.
Happy left London on on January 26, 1939. Otto Fockelmann received Happy from his owner, Floyd Tangier Smith, in trust. He took him to Hannover and placed him at the disposal of animal dealer L. Ruhe for exhibition in Germany.
Ruhe & Fockelmann displayed him at Zoologischer Garten Berlin, Zoo Hannover, Münchner Tierpark Hellabrunn, Zoologischer Garten Leipzig & Kölner Zoo. After his German Tour, Happy was on display at the Zoo de Vincennes in Paris, France.
Happy was sold to the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, USA.
He left Europe on an ocean liner at the port of Cherbourg on June 6, 1939.
Happy arrived in Saint Louis on June 24, 1939 and stayed there until his death on March 10, 1946.
Lien Ho
Lien Ho (male) was born approximately in August 1945.
He has studbook number 15.
His name means "Union" in Chinese.
He was captured by Ma-Teh on December 10, 1945.
He came to London Zoo on May 11, 1946.
He was a goodwill gift from the Governor of the Sichuan Province
Lien Ho died on February 22, 1950.
Chi Chi
Chi Chi (female) was born approximately in September 1954.
She has studbook number 18.
Her name means "Naughty, Mischievous Little Girl" in Chinese.
She was caught in Baoxing in the Sichuan mountains on May 5, 1955. She was only a few months old. She lived at the Beijing Zoo from June 4, 1955.
In 1958, Austrian animal dealer Heini Demmer, bought her from the Beijing Zoo. He toured with Chi Chi along several zoos in Europe.
She lived at Zoo Frankfurt from May 23 until July 3, at Zoo Kobenhavn from July 3 until August 2, at Tierpark Berlin from August 2 until August 26, again at Zoo Frankfurt from August 26 until September 4 and at London Zoo from September 5. Heini Demmer sold her to London Zoo on September 30, 1958.
In 1964, Chi Chi was successfully treated for an eye infection whilst under a general anaesthetic.
She went on a mating trip to An An in Moscow from March 11 until October 17, 1966, but without succes.
Chi Chi died on July 22, 1972.
An An
An An (male)
He has studbook number 24.
He was captured in Baoxing on April 2, 1958 and moved to the Beijing Zoo on June 2, 1958.
He came to the Moscow Zoo, Moscow, U.S.S.R. on August 18, 1959.
He moved to Moscow as a goodwill gift from China.
He went on a mating trip to Chi Chi in London from August 30, 1968 until May 21, 1969, but without succes.
An An died on October 18, 1972 at the Moscow Zoo.
Edward Heath receives a gift from China - Chia Chia & Ching Ching
On September 14, 1974 Prime Minister Edward Heath received a goodwill gift from the chinese government, a couple of giant pandas: Chia Chia & Ching Ching.
Chia Chia (male) was born approximately in September 1972.
He has studbook number 141.
His name means "Most Excellent or Very Best" in Chinese.
He was found in Baoxing on April 26, 1973 and moved to the Beijing Zoo on October 19, 1973.
He came to London Zoo on September 14, 1974 with Ching Ching.
They were a goodwill gift from the Chinese Government to the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Edward Heath.
He was loaned to the National Zoo on March 6, 1981. Hsing Hsing showed no interest in mating with Ling Ling. Chia Chia's mate Ching Ching was ill and the zoo's were hoping Chia Chia would mate with Ling Ling. But it was no succes, Chia Chia & Ling Ling fought. He returned to London on July 10, 1981.
The Zoo de la Casa de Campo used his sperm to perform artificial insemination on Shao Shao in 1982.
After Ching Ching's death on June 20, 1985, Chia Chia stayed alone until September 2, 1988. He left London Zoo and moved to the Chapultepec Zoo to mate with their female panda Tohui. He arrived in Mexico on November 30, 1988, after a fundraising stop for the Chapultepec Zoo's panda breeding program at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
Chia Chia is the father of Chu Lin, Chu Lin's twin sister & Xin Xin.
Chia Chia died on October 13, 1991 at the Chapultepec Zoo.
Ching Ching (female) was born approximately in September 1972.
She has studbook number 127.
Her name means "Crystal Bright" in Chinese.
She was captured in Pigwu and moved to the Chongqing Zoo in November 1972. In October 1973, she was transferred to the Beijing Zoo.
She came to London Zoo on September 14, 1974 with Chia Chia.
They were a goodwill gift from the Chinese Government to the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Edward Heath.
Ching Ching died on June 20, 1985.
Ming Ming
Ming Ming (female) was born approximately in September 1977.
She has studbook number 214.
She was captured in Pingwu on September 12, 1979.
She was transferred to the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda in Wolong.
She was loaned to the Dublin Zoo in May 1986 with Ping Ping.
they returned to China in October 1986, Ming Ming moved to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
She came to London Zoo on October 19, 1991 on a breeding loan.
She moved back to China on October 26, 1994.
Ming Ming lives at the Panyu Zoo since March 31, 1998.
Bao Bao
Bao Bao (male) was born approximately in September 1978.
He has studbook number 208.
His name means "Schätzchen" in Chinese.
He was found wounded in Baoxing in the Chinese Sichuan Province in April 1979. He lived at the Chengdu Zoo from April 23, 1979. He moved to the Beijing Zoo in September 1980.
He came to Zoo Berlin on November 5, 1980 with Tjen Tjen.
After Tjen Tjen's death on February 8, 1984, Bao Bao stayed alone until November 14, 1991. Zoo Berlin agreed that Bao Bao would go on a breeding loan to London Zoo. In London, the female Ming Ming was waiting for him. Officials at the London Zoo had hoped they would breed, but instead the couple fought savagely. Bao Bao returned to Berlin on May 26, 1993.
On April 14, 1995 a new female, Yan Yan, came to Berlin. Both pandas lived separately in connecting exhibits.
After Yan Yan's death on March 26, 2007, Bao Bao is again the only giant panda at Zoo Berlin.
Bao Bao is the oldest male panda in captivity and the oldest panda outside of China.
The Present of London Zoo
Visit www.zsl.org
Image Source Happy: Archive of Zoo Hannover.
The pictures of Chia Chia are made by Mike Dulaney, his keeper in Cincinnati.
|
--------------------------
|