The Giant Panda is the worldwide symbol of wildlife preservation. Originally these black and white bamboo bears were widespread in large areas of China and Burma. Currently there are only approximately 1,600 of this species living in the mountain forests of south-western China. Although the Panda has been a protected species since 1939 it is still to be found on the Red List.
Many zoos dream of keeping Giant Pandas. The Schönrunn Zoo has fulfilled this dream. In 2003, after long and intensive negotiations and planning a pair of pandas, Yang Yang and Long Hui came to Schönbrunn from Wolong, the Chinese research and breeding centre. Fu Long was their first offspring and was born in August 2007. Not really unusual in the case of most mammals, but a small miracle with the highly endangered panda. Fu Long was Europe's first panda baby to be conceived naturally. Journalists flocked to the zoo and pictures of the baby panda went around the world. In November 2009, at the age of two, having been weaned off his mother and in accordance with the agreement with the Peoples Republic of China Fu Long was moved to the Panda Breeding and Research Centre in Bifengxia in the South Chinese Province of Sichuan.
But the thousands of panda fans in Vienna did not have to wait too long: exactly three years to the day after Fu Long's birth, a second baby of this endangered species was born: Fu Hu or "Lucky Tiger". Fu Hu's birth confirmed once again China's choice of Schönbrunn as a cooperation partner for breeding this highly endangered species of bear. China has only entrusted Giant Pandas to two other European zoos. This is not only a great sign of trust but also a huge challenge, as the survival of this species in the wild is still hanging in the balance.
Schönrunn's panda protection project is built up on several pillars. The Viennese zoo supports the Chinese Forestry Ministry and the national Nature Preservation Authorities not only financially but also with its expertise. Hope for the future rests on plans to establish Panda natural reserves and migration corridors between the existing reserves. These reserves are to be supervised by local Panda rangers, who will be regularly trained by Schönbrunn Zoo in cooperation with the Austrian National Parks. Together with other institutions all over the world the zoo is also doing important basic research in the field of pandas, the results of which will help this species both in the wild and in captivity. One important pillar is the maintenance of variety, and Fu Long and Fu Hu have already done their bit here. The zoo focuses on natural breeding and relies on Yan Yang's maternal qualities. The success proves that this approach was right.
Public relations play an important role at Schönbrunn. The keeping of Giant Pandas in zoos, like our small panda family here at Schönbrunn, helps to touch the hearts of people throughout the world, and leads to personal involvement and financial donations to assist the preservation of this species so deserving of protection.
