Zoo Berlin has 1 giant panda: Bao Bao

In September 1979, the Chinese premier Hua Guofeng brought a state visit to the BRD. As a goodwill gift the chinese government gave a couple of giant pandas to the German Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt.

On November 5, 1980 the male Bao Bao and the female Tjen Tjen arrived in West Berlin.
Both animals were 2 years old.

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.