On January 19, Beijing Zoo announced via its official Weibo account that the giant panda Gu Gu (古古) passed away at 2:09 a.m. on January 16, at the age of 25 years and 4 months.
According to the zoo, Gu Gu, with lineage number 496, was a male giant panda born on September 25, 1999. He had been living at Beijing Zoo since 2004. Known for his gentle personality and harmonious relationship with his keepers, he was affectionately called “Old Master Gu Gu” by the staff. Due to his role in safeguarding the zoo after three incidents where he bit visitors who sneaked into the panda enclosure, Gu Gu was also humorously referred to as the “security chief” of Beijing Zoo.

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In recent years, Gu Gu’s health had gradually declined as he aged. To create a more comfortable and suitable environment for the elderly panda, the zoo transferred him to a non-public area for care starting on January 9, 2024. Since August 2023, Gu Gu had shown signs of abdominal edema, along with a decrease in appetite, slower movements, and longer resting periods. The zoo promptly adjusted his diet and invited experts in related fields to conduct thorough evaluations of his health, developing corresponding treatment and care plans.
Unfortunately, Gu Gu’s condition worsened in the afternoon of January 15, 2025. Early on January 16, at 2:09 a.m., Gu Gu passed away peacefully in the company of the zoo staff. A preliminary examination suggested that Gu Gu died from a combination of old age, heart and liver diseases, and the failure of various organs.
Gu Gu’s passing marks the end of a significant chapter for the Beijing Zoo, where he had been a beloved figure for many years, contributing both to the zoo’s panda program and to the charm and warmth felt by the public.