Imagine a panda who, from an early age, was trained to live as a true wild spirit! Hua Jiao (华姣/Huajiao), born on July 6, 2013, embodies the brave journey from dependence to independence. Raised in a semi-wild environment and later released into the lush mountains of Sichuan, her story is one of resilience. Watching Hua Jiao thrive in the wild is like witnessing nature’s triumph – her transformation is both inspiring and heartwarming.
Basic Information
- Name: Hua Jiao (华姣)
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: July 6, 2013
- Place of Birth: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Walnut Flat Wild Training Base
- Mother: Cao Cao (草草)
- Father: Bai Yang (白杨)
- Pedigree Number: 866
- Twin Brother: Hua Hu (华虎)
- Siblings: Wu Yang (武阳), Xing Ye (星野), Mu Ye (牧野), He He (和和), Mei Mei (美美)
Growth and Wild Training Experience
Early Life: From the moment she was born, Hua Jiao was raised in a semi-wild environment designed for initial wild training. This early exposure laid a solid foundation for her future rehabilitation and wild training.
Wild Training: In April 2015, Hua Jiao and her mother moved to a larger wild training enclosure in the Tian Tai Mountain area of Wolong, marking the successful completion of her first phase of wild training and the beginning of her second phase. During this training, Hua Jiao gradually acquired essential survival skills, such as finding food and water, as well as evading predators.
Independence: Unlike other pandas that have been released in the past, Hua Jiao was separated from her mother at just one and a half years old. She spent seven months living independently in the wild training environment, successfully meeting the objectives of her wild training and showing promising physical health.
Release into the Wild
Release Date: On November 19, 2015, Hua Jiao was successfully released into the wild in the Li Zi Ping National Nature Reserve in Ya’an, Sichuan Province.
Post-Release Life: Following her release, GPS tracking and data feedback indicated that Hua Jiao was living freely near her release site and maintaining good health. She gradually adapted to the wild environment, learned to interact with other pandas, and displayed the survival skills expected of her species.
Documentary: The documentary, “Return to the Forest”, captures Hua Jiao’s journey through wild training and her release process. It showcases her growth and transformation during rehabilitation, as well as her adaptation to life in the wild. Through this film, viewers can gain deeper insight into the challenges and successes of panda rehabilitation and release efforts.
