Panda Hua Jiao: Back to the Wild

Panda Hua Jiao

Panda Hua Jiao (华姣), a remarkable female giant panda, has a fascinating story that reflects the dedication to panda conservation and rehabilitation. Born on July 6, 2013, at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in the Walnut Flat Wild Training Base, Hua Jiao has undergone an impressive journey from her early life in a semi-wild environment to her successful reintegration into the wild. Her experiences not only highlight the challenges and achievements of panda rehabilitation but also the commitment of conservationists to preserving this iconic species.

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
  • Siblings: Wu Yang (武阳), Hua Hu (华虎), 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.