Xiao He Tao (小核桃/Xiaohetao)’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Born on July 30, 2016, her name “Little Walnut” perfectly captures her small yet determined spirit. From the Walnut Flat Base to the wilds of Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reserve, Xiao He Tao defied the odds, successfully adapting to a life in the wild after intensive training. Today, her first documented sighting in the wild is a heartwarming testament to her resilience and the ongoing success of panda conservation efforts.
Basic Information
- Name: Xiao He Tao (小核桃)
- Meaning of the Name: Little Walnut
- Gender: Female
- Lineage Number: 1019
- Date of Birth: July 30, 2016
- Birthplace: Walnut Flat Base, China
- Mother: Zhuang Mei (壮妹)
- Father: Wu Yang (武阳)
- Twin Sister: Chu Xin (初心)
- Siblings: Xing Ya (星雅), Xing An (星安), Jin Bao Bao (金宝宝)
Life Experience of Panda Xiao He Tao
Wild Training: Xiao He Tao spent her formative years at the Walnut Flat Base, living with her mother, Zhuang Mei, and her sister, Chu Xin. In 2017, Xiao He Tao was selected to participate in a wild training program aimed at enhancing the wild giant panda population (Note that, Xiao He Tao underwent wild training after 1 year in the captive environment rather than joining the program right after her birth, which made the rehabilitation even harder). After more than two years of adaptive wild training, Xiao He Tao successfully completed both training phases. Her physical development, health status, behavioral characteristics, and adaptability met the necessary criteria for release into the wild.
Release: On December 17, 2018, Xiao He Tao was released into the wild at the Longxi-Hongkou National Nature Reserve in Dujiangyan City. She was released alongside another female panda, Qin Xin (琴心), marking a historic event as it was the first time that artificially bred pandas were released within the Chengdu area.
Monitoring: To monitor her activities and movements, researchers equipped Xiao He Tao with a GPS radio collar for real-time tracking. This collar records her location and behavior, providing valuable data that helps scientists understand her post-release survival conditions.
Re-appearance: In November 2021, while conducting field monitoring, the state-owned forest farm in Dujiangyan captured images of a wild giant panda using infrared cameras. After careful identification and DNA analysis by the staff at the China Giant Panda Protection Research Center, it was confirmed that this panda was Xiao He Tao. This was the first documented sighting of her in the wild, providing strong evidence that she had successfully adapted to her natural habitat.
