Gao Gao

Gao Gao
Gao Gao, a male giant panda, eating bamboo at the San Diego Zoo
Gao Gao at the San Diego Zoo in 2012
Other name高高
SpeciesGiant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
SexMale
BornGao Gao
c. 1990
China
DiedNovember 24, 2025
Sichuan, China
NationalityChinese
OccupationBreeding and research panda
EmployerSan Diego Zoo (2003–2018), China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
Years active2003–2018
Known forFather of five cubs born to Bai Yun at the San Diego Zoo
OwnerChina Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
ResidenceDujiangyan, Sichuan, China
MateBai Yun
OffspringMei Sheng, Su Lin, Zhen Zhen, Yun Zi, Xiao Liwu
AppearanceDistinctive torn left ear; black-and-white fur typical of the giant panda
Named afterMeans "High High" or "Tall Tall" in Chinese
Gao Gao eating bamboo in his habitat at the San Diego Zoo.

Gao Gao (Chinese: 高高; lit. 'High High or Tall Tall'[1]) was a male giant panda formerly at the San Diego Zoo from 2003 to 2018 and was then returned to China. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur in 2013. His right testicle was removed for health in 2014. He fathered five giant pandas in captivity.

History

Gao Gao was born in the wild in China, around 1990, and was taken to the Fengtongzhai Nature Reserve in 1993 suffering from injuries which resulted in the loss of nearly two thirds of his left ear.

On April 12, 1995, Gao Gao was released to the wild in good health, as featured in the Chinese documentary Returning Home.[2] However, his release was brief, as he was too disruptive to the local villages. He was then brought to the Wolong Panda Conservation Center in 2002.[3]

Gao Gao arrived at the San Diego Zoo in January 2003 and replaced Shi Shi as Bai Yun's mate.[4] This has proven to be a very successful pairing — Gao Gao and Bai Yun are the parents of Mei Sheng (M), Su Lin (F), Zhen Zhen (F), Yun Zi (M), and Xiao Liwu (M),[1] all conceived via natural mating. He has three grandchildren, among them a male born to Su Lin on July 7, 2011.

Gao Gao in his habitat at the San Diego Zoo.

On October 30, 2018, Gao Gao left the San Diego Zoo, and returned to China as the end of his 15 year loan agreement was reached.[5]

Journey to the US

On January 14, 2003, Gao Gao departed from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and arrived at the San Diego Zoo on the evening of January 15. This journey followed after the return of the panda Shishi to China. Throughout the journey, Gaogao was accompanied by research staff and many panda foods, including bamboo and steamed bread. After arriving at the San Diego Zoo, Gao Gao underwent a 30-day quarantine time to ensure his health and then met the public.[6][7]

In October 2018, Gao Gao finished his stay in the United States and returned to China at the age of 28, which is equivalent to 98 years in human life.[8] To protect his safety, the San Diego Zoo did not disclose the specific departure time and transportation mode. Considering Gao Gao's age and health problems, the zoo “prepared intensely.[9]” Gaogao was trained in advance to be accustomed to staying in a crate and ignoring the noise from the environment. Two staff members accompanied Gaogao throughout the entire trip to provide care and support.

Since returning to China, Gao Gao has lived in the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas[10] in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, which is also his hometown. As of October 2023, he was still there. The experts at the center conducted a physical examination and designed a personalized plan to ensure Gao Gao’s well-being. Following a month-long quarantine period, Gao Gao met the public in early December 2018.

Health

On May 6, 2014, Gao Gao received a one-hour surgery at the San Diego Zoo to have his right testicle removed due to a tumor. The decision was made after considering Gao Gao was not at the age for breeding and approved by The Ministry of Forestry for the People’s Republic of China,[11] which is the government sector in charge of the conservation of animals in China. He recovered well—eating and sleeping as usual.[12]

In June 2016, Gao Gao’s medical examination indicated that he had pulmonic stenosis,[13] which cannot be completely cured. This result represented a progressive condition from three years earlier when he had been initially diagnosed with a heart murmur. The Zoo provided Gao Gao with medication and closely monitored his health.

Mating

On August 19, 2003, Bai Yun, a female giant panda at the San Diego Zoo, gave birth to Meisheng. The DNA test showed that Gao Gao was Meisheng's father. In Chinese, Mei Sheng means "Born in the U.S.A.", and can also be interpreted as "beautiful life".[14] Mei Sheng is Gao Gao and Bai Yun's first child and the first male giant panda born in the United States through natural mating.[15]

On April 9, 2005, the San Diego Zoo announced that Gao Gao and Bai Yun mated naturally twice in the past two days, and Bai Yun became pregnant.[16] They are the first pair of giant pandas in the United States to successfully mate naturally this year.[17] Then, on August 2, 2005, their second cub Sulin, which means "a little bit of something very cute" in Chinese, was born.

From 2003 to 2012, Gao Gao and Bai Yun produced five babies by natural mating, a prioritized way other than artificial insemination since the latter needs two steps, during both of which two pandas need to be sedated.[18]

Death

Gao Gao died on 24 November 2025, at approximately 33 years of age, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan, China. In the preceding days, he showed signs of declining health, including reduced appetite, lethargy, and abdominal bloating observed on 22 November; medication provided minor improvement. A CT scan conducted the following day in collaboration with a top-tier hospital disclosed severe complications, including a shrunken right lung with patchy inflammation, blurred margins, pleural effusion, thickened right pleura, and abnormalities in multiple other organs. Treatment temporarily stabilized his condition, enabling intake of liquid food under continuous 24-hour monitoring.

Tragically, around 11:40 a.m. on November 24, Gao Gao suffered sudden hindlimb weakness, instability, and respiratory distress. Despite exhaustive emergency efforts, he passed peacefully at 2:30 p.m.

Genetic anomaly

Gao Gao, being wild-born, is considered a valuable contributor to the captive giant panda gene pool. One noteworthy genetic trait that he has passed on to the oldest four of his offspring is webbed toes.[19][20]

See also

Footnotes and references

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gao Gao.
  1. ^ a b "Meet the Pandas: Gao Gao's San Diego Zoo Profile". Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  2. ^ "回家—熊猫纪录片".
  3. ^ Rosenbaum, Ellie. "Celebrating Gao Gao". San Diego Zoo. Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  4. ^ Shi Shi was sent back to China.
  5. ^ Garske, Monica (30 October 2018). "Goodbye, Gao Gao: Beloved Giant Panda Leaves San Diego Zoo". NBC San Diego.
  6. ^ "中国雄性熊猫高高抵达美国圣迭戈新家动物园". news.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  7. ^ "四川卧龙大熊猫"高高"启程赴美成亲并生活六年". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  8. ^ 郭凯. "Old panda Gao Gao returns to China after 15 years' overseas life". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  9. ^ FIKES, BRADLEY J. (2018-10-30). "Panda patriarch Gao Gao leaves San Diego Zoo to return to China". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  10. ^ "Returned San Diego Zoo panda meets public in China after quarantine_熊猫新闻_熊猫频道". en.ipanda.com. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  11. ^ "Gao Gao had his right testicle removed". GiantPandaGlobal.com. 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  12. ^ Lupkin, Sydney. "San Diego Panda Recovering From Testicular Cancer Surgery". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. ^ Relations, Public. "Geriatric Giant Panda Undergoes Cardiac Ultrasound – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Stories". stories.sandiegozoo.org. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  14. ^ "US Zoo Names Panda Cub As 'Mei Sheng'". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  15. ^ "大熊猫"美生"回国结亲 中国外运全程护航－国务院国有资产监督管理委员会". www.sasac.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  16. ^ "我国两只大熊猫在美国成功自然受孕_新闻中心_新浪网". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  17. ^ "中国大熊猫在美成功交配_科学探索_科技时代_新浪网". tech.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  18. ^ Ruane, Michael E. (2023-10-28). "The art of panda sex — and why D.C.'s pandas were so bad at it". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  19. ^ "Panda Ducklings?". San Diego Zoo. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  20. ^ "Zoo confirms panda paternity: Tiny toes tell the tale". The Orange County Register. September 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24.
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