With the debut of the first pandas to enter the U.S. in more than 20 years, NBC 7’s Marianne Kushi takes a look back at giant pandas time in San Diego.
As excitement builds for the giant pandas' return to San Diego, let's take a look back at the Zoo's long history with the black-and-white bears.
September 10, 1996: Bai Yun and Shi Shi arrive at the San Diego Zoo from the Wolong Panda Preserve in China.
August 21, 1999: Hua Mei was born in San Diego, the first panda cub to survive in captivity in the United States. She was the product of artificial insemination between Bai Yun and Shi Shi.
January 2003: Gao Gao arrived in San Diego as a new mate for Bai Yun. Born in the wild, he would go on to father five cubs at the San Diego Zoo.
August 19, 2003: Mei Sheng was the first cub born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao and the second cub to be born at the San Diego Zoo. He was moved to China at age 4.
February 2004: Hua Mei returns to China where she would live at the Wolong Giant Panda Conservation Center.
Steven Luke/NBC 7
Xiao Liwu at Panda Canyon at the San Diego Zoo on April 6, 2019.
Steven Luke/NBC 7
Bai Yun at Panda Canyon at the San Diego Zoo on April 6, 2019.
Steven Luke/NBC 7
Bai Yun at Panda Canyon at the San Diego Zoo on April 6, 2019.
Steven Luke/NBC 7
Xiao Liwu at Panda Canyon at the San Diego Zoo on April 6, 2019.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun first came to the San Diego Zoo on Septemeber 10, 1996, from the Wolong Panda Preserve in China. She arrived in the U.S. with her friend Shi Shi.
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Hua Mei was the first panda cub to survive captivity in the U.S. She was the product of artificial insemination between Bai Yun and Shi Shi. She was born on August 21, 1999, at 1:15 p.m. Bai Yun was pregnant with twins, but only Hua Mei survived.
Getty Images
This is Hua Mei hanging out at the San Diego Zoo on February 29, 2003. She moved to China a year later to live at the Wolong Giant Panda Conservation Center.
San Diego Zoo
Gao Gao arrived in San Diego as a new mate for Bai Yun in January 2003.
Photo taken on October 25, 2018
Born in the wild, Gao Gao would go on to father five cubs with Bai Yun at the San Diego Zoo.
Getty Images
Meet Mei Sheng! He was Bai Yun and Gao Gao's first cub. This is him celebrating his second birthday on August 19, 2005. Two years later, he moved to China.
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Meet Su Lin! She was Bai Yun and Gao Gao's second cub. Su Lin was born on August 2, 2005, and this is the cub showing off two of her new canine teeth during her weekly veterinary exam!
Getty Images
Su Lin celebrates Mother's Day with her mom, Bai Yun, at the San Diego Zoo with a flurry of snow on May 14, 2006. Four years later, Su Lin moved to China with her sister Zhen Zhen. Born on August 3, 2007, Zhen Zhen was Bai Yun and Gao Gao's third child.
Tammy Spratt
Meet Yun Zi! He was born on August 5, 2009. This is him at four years old sliding around in his snowy exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. He was Bai Yun and Gao Gao's fourth cub.
Ken Bohn/ San Diego Zoo
This is Yun Zi enjoying his third birthday party at the San Diego Zoo with an ice and bamboo cake. A few months later, in January 2014, he hopped on the plane at LAX and headed to China.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun's fifth cub with Gao Gao was Xiao Liwu. He was born on July 29, 2012, at the San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo
Xiao Liwu's name means "Little Gift."
Xiao Liwu likes to play and pounce with his mom, Bai Yun, at the San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun and her son, Xiao Liwu, have fun in the snow and cuddle for warmth.
San Diego Zoo
Say cheese! Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu smile for a photo at the San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo
Xiao Liwu celebrates his first birthday with a fun present at the San Diego Zoo!
San Diego Zoo
It's important to stop and smell the flowers, and Bai Yun agrees!
San Diego Zoo
Xiao Liwu turns three at the San Diego Zoo with a special cake.
San Diego Zoo
I don't know about you, but Bai Yun is feeling 22! The mother panda got a towering cake to celebrate her birthday at the San Diego Zoo in 2013.
NBC 5 News
Giant panda mom Bai Yun enjoys a special ice cake in celebration of her 22nd birthday on September 7, 2013.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun turned 24 years old in 2014! She celebrated with an ice cake topped with apple slices.
San Diego Zoo
Xiao Liwu was just four months away from turning seven when the San Diego Zoo announced he and his mother's departure.
August 2, 2005: Su Lin was born to Bai Yun and Gao Gao as their second cub, and the third to be successfully raised in San Diego.
August 3, 2007: Zhen Zhen was the fourth panda to be born to the San Diego Zoo. She was later named by panda fans through an online poll.
July 2008: Shi Shi dies at the Guangzhou Zoo.
August 5, 2009: Yun Zi was born at the San Diego Zoo to Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Even though it was the fifth successful birth for the panda program, one veterinarian described it as "just as exciting as our first."
August 2010: Siblings Su Lin and Zhen Zhen were returned to China.
March 16, 2011: Panda Bai Yun pushed open a safety barrier between the keeper area and the animal's habitat. When a keeper tried to herd Bai Yun back into her living quarters, the panda grabbed onto one of the worker's legs with her jaws. The keeper was treated at a hospital.
July 29, 2012: Xiao Liwu was born to Bai Yun, her last cub. His name means "Little Gift."
January 9, 2014: Yun Zi leaves the San Diego Zoo, flies out of LAX, and is returned to China.
NBC 7
Xiao Liwu celebrates his second birthday at the San Diego Zoo.
NBC 7
Xiao Liwu - "Mr. Wu" as he's called at the San Diego Zoo - celebrates his second birthday on July 29, 2014.
NBC 7
Xiao Liwu - "Mr. Wu" as he's called at the San Diego Zoo - celebrates his second birthday on July 29, 2014.
NBC 7
Xiao Liwu - "Mr. Wu" as he's called at the San Diego Zoo - celebrates his second birthday on July 29, 2014.
Rita Petita/ San Diego Zoo
Panda cub XIao Liwu enjoys some sunny San Diego weather at the zoo on Mar. 2, 2013. Panda life is tough, right?
Ken Bohn
The San Diego Zoo’s panda cub, Xiao Liwu, started the New Year with a clean bill of health from his veterinarians. During his 20th exam this morning there was bamboo to snack on and various toys including a doughnut- shaped plastic ring (perfect for panda sitting) to play with and a wooden log to climb over. The 22-week-old panda weighed 16 pounds this morning and keepers say he is confidently climbing and full of energy.
Ken Bohn/ San Diego Zoo
This panda sure loves his bamboo. Here, the cub plays during his Dec. 27, 2012, veterinary exam.
Ken Bohn/ San Diego Zoo
Xiao Liwu, now five-months-old, plays with a couple of new toys during his final vet exam of 2012 on Dec. 27.
Ken Bohn, Photographer, San Dieg
Giant panda cub Xiao Liwu stretched out and showed his belly while animal care staff checked him over during his weekly exam at the San Diego Zoo. Nutritionist Jennifer Parsons took his measurements and noted that this panda cub is growing as expected, his measurements on track with other giant pandas born at the Zoo. Xiao Liwu weighs 12.1 pounds and is 25.9 inches long, with all four canine teeth visible in this Nov. 29, 2012 photo.
AP
In this photo provided by the San Diego Zoo showing the panda cub at the San Diego Zoo during his fifth veterinary exam on Friday Sept.20,2012. The male panda, born on July 29, 2012, weighed 4.9 pounds (2.26 kilograms), nearly a pound more than he weighed during the last exam. Veterinarians recorded that the cub�s eyes are almost open now and believe the cub can see but is likely limited to viewing light and shadows. The San Diego Zoo follows the Chinese cultural tradition of naming the giant panda after it is 100 days old. (AP Photo/San Diego Zoo/Tammy Spratt)
San Diego Zoo
How quickly he's growing! When the newest panda at the San Diego Zoo was examined on Oct. 9, the cub weighed 7.3 lbs. and measured 20" long. His teeth are about to surface, and he's starting to crawl according to the zoo's Facebook page.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
During the Oct. 4 exam, veterinary staff confirmed that the giant panda cub's eyes and ears are fully open.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo's giant panda cub is getting to see and hear more of the world surrounding him.
Tammy Spratt
The cub received his first rounds of vaccinations on Sept. 25 and vets say, he didn't flinch or even make a sound. The little guy weighs nearly six pounds.nIn true Chinese tradition, the zoo won't name the cub until he's 100 days old. So far, people have submitted more than 75-hundred name suggestions. The zoo will put the most popular suggestions to a public vote next month.
Tammy Spratt
The panda cub weighs nearly 5 pounds on Sept. 21, 2012 and his eyes are almost open.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The panda cub at the San Diego Zoo is starting to take a peek at the great, big world around him. During an exam on Sept. 12, animal care staff could see the cub’s eyes beginning to open. This is right on track for this 45-day old male cub. It will take about another 20 days for the eyes to be fully open.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Starting Sept. 17, the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy will begin taking name suggestions for the male cub on its website
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo announced after an examination that the panda cub is a boy! The 5-week old cub is healthy at 3.2 pounds.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The zoo will be asking for the public's help to name the cub.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The panda's belly is 12-inches in circumference.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
High five! The panda cub is a boy.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The panda's mother, Bai Yun, has given birth to six panda cubs.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo follows the Chinese cultural tradition of naming the giant panda after it is 100 days old, so he does not have a name yet.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The panda cub's eyes are still closed since he is only 5 weeks old.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The cub is 3.2 pounds.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
In an early morning examination by veterinarians, the month-old cub was measured and weighed on Aug. 30, 2012.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Veterinarians noted a full belly on the cub, who had just finished nursing before the exam.
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
No word yet on whether the panda cub is a girl or a boy - stay tuned!
Courtesy of San Diego Zoo
The cub weighs more than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and seems to be developing normally.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
The baby panda make its debut on Monday, July 30 when the mother bear left the den briefly.
The cub was doing flips inside the den.
The panda cub is the size of a cell phone right now.
Mama bear returns to her baby bear.
See how small the cub is? Aww.
The mother bear holds the cub tight.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
Bai Yun has had four cubs at the San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
There's a lot of love between these two.
San Diego Zoo
Images from the cub's first exam on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012.
Tammy Spratt
The panda cub’s furry belly was on full display Nov. 1 as the rambunctious boy was examined during his 11th veterinary exam.
Xiao Liwu and his mother Bai Yun roam the public exhibit at the San Diego Zoo.
Little Xiao Liwu is not so little any more.
Xiao Liwu snacks on a few treats in his enclosure.
Animal-lovers around the world have watched Xiao Liwu grow via the zoo's "Panda Cam" from a tiny bean-shaped speck resting on his mother to a rambunctious fluff ball crawling away from veterinarians at his routine exams.
"The Panda Team feels our five-month-old cub has become confident enough to navigate around this large habitat while being admired by his adoring fans," said the zoo's blog moderator Debbie Andreen in post Monday.
June 2016: The zoo announced its eldest panda was suffering from heart disease.
March 25, 2019: The San Diego Zoo announces the remaining two giant pandas will leave the U.S. at the end of April.
April 2019: The giant pandas leave the U.S. and return to China.
February 2024: The China Wildlife Conservation Association signed a cooperation agreement with the San Diego Zoo to bring the beloved mammal back to San Diego. The Chinese organization described the deals as a new round of collaboration on panda conservation.
April 29, 2024: Five years after the last Giant Pandas left San Diego, we were introduced to the two giant pandas coming to San Diego later this year: Yun Chuan and Xin Bao. It marked the first time in 21 years that pandas entered the U.S.
Yun Chuan, a nearly 5-year-old male, is described as mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. He is the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. The first character of his name, "Yun," is a nod to his grandmother Bai Yun, who lived at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Xin Bao, a nearly 4-year-old female, is described as a "gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears," a zoo statement reads. Her name means a "new treasure of prosperity and abundance."
July 9, 2024: The San Diego Zoo released the first photos of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in their new habitat. Take a look here.
Aug. 8, 2024: Yun Chuan and Xin Bao officially make their debut at the San Diego Zoo. Here's how to see them.
Ken Bohn
Bai Yun eats her birthday cake as she turns 24 at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
The birthday girl rolling around in some hay containing some of her favorite scents.
San Diego Zoo
Birthday surprises left by keepers for Bai Yun.
San Diego Zoo
Birthday surprises left by keepers for Bai Yun.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun's birthday cake: slushy ice with chunks of fruit.
San Diego Zoo
Bai Yun, checking out her birthday surprises at the San Diego Zoo on Sept. 7, 2015. The mother of six is now 24.
San Diego Zoo
Let her eat cake. Bai Yun takes a bite from her treat.
San Diego Zoo
Eating cake.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
Fuzhou Zoo
The Chinese zoo now home to a panda that once lived at the San Diego Zoo in 1987 is inviting folks who came to see the panda in the 1980s in San Diego to the panda's 35th birthday party.
