Qiao Qiao (乔乔) is a shining example of resilience and motherhood in the giant panda world. Rescued from the wild and nurtured back to health, she has thrived in both captivity and the wild. With her remarkable contributions to conservation, including groundbreaking success in the field of wild breeding, Qiao Qiao has secured her place as a treasured member of the panda family.
Basic Information
- Name: Qiao Qiao (乔乔)
- Gender: Female
- Birth Year: Approximately 2009
- Pedigree Number: 860
- Birthplace: Wild
- Current Residence: China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
- Previous Locations: Ya’an Bifengxia Base, Hetaoping Base
Rescue and Rehabilitation of Panda Qiao Qiao
Rescue: Qiao Qiao’s story took a dramatic turn on April 8, 2013, when she was found struggling to walk in the scenic area of Mount Siguniang. Local residents rescued her and brought her to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where she received critical medical care. After her treatment, Qiao Qiao made a full recovery and gradually adapted to life in a managed environment.
First and Second Litter: On August 11, 2016, Qiao Qiao gave birth to her first pair of twins, Qiao Yi (乔伊) and Qiao Liang (乔良), at the Bifengxia Base in Ya’an. On September 5, 2017, She welcomed her second set of twins, Rui Rui (蕊蕊) and another unnamed cub, further showcasing her exceptional maternal instincts.
Qiao Qiao’s Wild Release and Breeding Program
Sucessful Mating and Litter: In March 2019, “Qiao Qiao” was sent to Mount Tiantai to participate in the wild release and breeding program. By early April, Qiao Qiao successfully mated with a wild male giant panda. After the mating, the staff continued to monitor Qiao Qiao in her natural wild environment. On the morning of September 16, Qiao Qiao exhibited clear signs of pre-labor behavior, such as frequent movement and restlessness. At 11:55 AM, her amniotic sac broke, and by 1:06 PM, she successfully gave birth to her first cub, named Qiao Sen (乔森). At 3:45 PM, she gave birth to her second cub, Qiao Lin (乔林). The first cub was sent to the Shen Shu Ping Base for artificial rearing, while the second cub was nursed by Qiao Qiao herself.
Condition of the Two Cubs: According to initial assessments by panda experts, Qiao Qiao’s first cub, Qiao Sen, was male and weighed 206.6 grams. Typically, giant panda cubs weigh around 150 grams at birth, so a weight of over 200 grams is rare. Both cubs were in stable condition. To ensure that both cubs received enough maternal milk, the monitoring staff swapped the cubs for the first time seven days after birth, allowing both to alternate being cared for by Qiao Qiao. The cubs were rotated every month, with a total of three swaps.
Milestone: Qiao Qiao is the second giant panda, following “Cao Cao,” to be successfully released into the wild as part of the giant panda wild breeding program, which began in 2017. She also became the second panda to give birth in the wild under this program. Her cubs were the first pair of panda cubs to be born in the wild through such efforts.
Retrieval: On December 12, at 1:30 PM, after more than five hours of capturing efforts, the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda successfully retrieved Qiao Qiao and her cubs from the wild in the Tiantai Mountain area of the Wolong National Nature Reserve. The panda veterinary team then conducted a health check on both Qiao Qiao and her cubs, confirming that they were both in good condition.
Following Attempts: In 2020 and 2022, Qiao Qiao participated in the wild breeding program again, ultimately giving birth to two more cubs, named E Mei (娥眉) and Chun Yu (春雨). These successful births greatly enriched the genetic diversity of the captive panda population, further advancing conservation efforts.