Ching Ching the giant panda

There are thought to be just 1,600 giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)  left in China, mostly living in the mountain areas of the south west. With their natural forest habitat threatened by agriculture and China’s growing human population, giant pandas are one of the world’s most endangered species.

This giant panda, Ching Ching, along with her partner Chia Chia, was a gift to Britain from the Chinese Government in 1974. During the Cold War China presented several countries with pandas, so that the gifts of the famous black-and-white bears came to be known as ‘panda diplomacy’.

Ching Ching was a much loved resident of London Zoo until her death in 1985, aged 12 or 13. Until recently it has been difficult to breed giant pandas in captivity, and sadly, Ching Ching and Chia Chia never produced any cubs.