Cai Tao (彩陶), a male giant panda born in 2010 at the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Ya’an, Sichuan, is more than just a charming symbol of wildlife conservation. He plays a vital role in international scientific cooperation and biodiversity preservation. Although not as famous as some of his peers, Cai Tao’s contributions to panda research and his international journeys have made him an important ambassador for both panda conservation and the promotion of Sino-foreign relations.
Basic Information
- Name: Cai Tao (彩陶)
- Meaning of Name: Colorful Pottery
- Gender: Male
- Genealogy Number: 778
- Date of Birth: August 4, 2010
- Place of Birth: China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center, Ya’an Bifengxia Base
- Mother: Na Na (娜娜)
- Father: Yuan Yuan (园园)
- Siblings: Xing Hui (星徽), Xing Rui (星睿), Shun Shun (舜舜), Pu Pu (浦浦), Fa Fa (发发), De Rui (德瑞), Pan Wang (潘旺)
Life Experience of Panda Cai Tao
Shanxi Taiyuan Zoo: On May 30, 2013, Cai Tao traveled to Shanxi Taiyuan Zoo with another panda, “Hu Chun (湖春).”
Daily Habits: Cai Tao, like his younger brother Shun Shun, loves taking baths and often soaks in the pool at his enclosure. He also shares a similar fondness for hanging upside down from trees, just like his half-sister, Yuan Xin (园欣). At the age of five, Cai Tao made headlines in the Daily Mail in the UK for performing various acrobatic feats on trees, earning the title of “The Real Kung Fu Panda.”
Indonesia: On September 28, 2017, Cai Tao, accompanied by “Hu Chun,” flew to Indonesia to begin a ten-year scientific cooperation project. They moved to the Indonesia Safari Park, marking the first time a Chinese panda had lived in Indonesia.
Additional Information: Cai Tao’s international journey was initially intended for two other pandas, Fei Yun (飞云) and Jin Hu (金虎). However, due to a tsunami delay, Cai Tao and Hu Chun were selected as the replacements. Although Cai Tao hasn’t garnered as much public attention as other pandas, his travel experiences play a significant role in fostering Sino-foreign exchanges and advancing biodiversity conservation efforts.
Breeding Hopes: Although Cai Tao and Huchun have been living together in Indonesia for eight years, they have yet to successfully breed. The zookeepers have even hung pictures of a panda mother and baby in their enclosure, hoping to inspire Huchun to get pregnant. However, it is said that the somewhat aloof Huchun is not fond of Cai Tao’s friendly and affectionate personality, which might be why she is reluctant to mate with him.
