(Hong Kong, 5 September 2024) The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) is honoured to welcome Hong Kong-born giant panda twins. Giant pandas have a notoriously complicated reproductive biology; however, the dedication and skilled care from the Ocean Park team have enabled Ying Ying to defy the odds, resulting in the joyous arrival of twin giant panda cubs on 15 August 2024. We look forward to watching them thrive under the exceptional stewardship of the Ocean Park animal care team with the support of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).
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Twin giant panda cubs (Left: Twin girl; Right: Twin boy)
Photo by Ocean Park Hong Kong
The population of wild giant pandas in China has increased from around 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Howard Chuk, Foundation Director of OPCFHK expressed, “These Hong Kong-born twin cubs will strengthen our role in preserving this important mammal species—whose conservation indirectly benefits a wide range of other species that share the same habitat. We are committed to expanding our conservation and education work on this unique species.”
Advancing Giant Panda Conservation
OPCFHK has long recognised the critical importance of conservation for this iconic species, dedicating substantial resources and expertise to ensure the survival of this endangered species. Since the establishment of the Hong Kong Society of Panda Conservation (HKSPC) in 1999, which later merged to form today’s OPCFHK, we have made giant panda conservation a central focus. To date, we have allocated over HK$30 million to support over 90 conservation research projects, nature education initiatives, and capacity-building programmes. Our efforts have protected and restored vital giant panda habitats, including over 375 square kilometres of protected areas and bamboo forests.
A key achievement of OPCFHK has been the funded training of over 1,100 frontline conservation workers in China. This training has enhanced the management of giant panda nature reserves and promoted sustainable conservation practices. Additionally, we have established 3 wildlife corridors to combat habitat fragmentation, which is a serious threat to the giant pandas’ survival. In Wanglang National Nature Reserve, our efforts led to a livestock grazing ban, further safeguarding the panda’s natural habitat.
The devastating Sichuan earthquake on 12 May 2008, which destroyed 83% of China’s panda habitats, was a turning point in our conservation journey. In response, we established the Giant Panda Rebuilding Fund to support the reconstruction of affected areas, including the breeding centre in Wolong and key research stations. Our commitment to giant panda conservation has deepened since then, with ongoing collaborations with the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Sichuan Province (SCFGA) and other regional authorities to fund and implement vital conservation projects.
Recent Innovative Research Projects
OPCFHK continues to support groundbreaking research that advances giant panda conservation. A project led by Dr Binbin Li, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Duke Kunshan University, and funded by OPCFHK, examined sustainable grazing and its impact on giant panda habitats during the period from July 2018 to May 2024. This nearly 6-year research quantified the damage caused by livestock grazing on bamboo ecosystems and other vegetation essential to pandas. By surveying wildlife and vegetation in affected areas, the project provided crucial data to formulate better grazing management policies. A key outcome of the project was the grazing ban in Wanglang National Nature Reserve within its boundaries. Alternatively, a sustainable livelihood development pilot scheme was introduced in Longchi Village within the Xiaohegou area of the Giant Panda National Park. This scheme aimed to enhance community awareness about wildlife protection, particularly for giant pandas, and foster a consensus on the importance of sustainable grazing management. Successful conservation requires a dynamic system of scientific monitoring, market-driven incentives, and community involvement—an approach that is essential for ensuring the long-term preservation of giant panda habitats and the many species that depend on them.
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Research project “Study on sustainable grazing and management policy of giant panda's habitat”.
Photo by Dr Binbin Li
Another notable project led by Professor Desheng Li, Deputy Director of China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, and supported by OPCFHK, aims to deepen our understanding of how reintroduced giant pandas adapt to the wild after human care. While some reintroduction efforts have been successful, gaps remain in understanding long-term behavioural adaptations. This study tracks the movement and foraging strategies of released pandas over time, comparing their behaviours with wild individuals. The findings will refine reintroduction models, ultimately improving future efforts to reintroduce pandas and other endangered species into the wild.
OPCFHK remains committed to advancing giant panda conservation. With the arrival of Ocean Park’s giant panda ambassadors, we are excited to continue inspiring a deeper understanding and appreciation of this incredible species through actively promoting educational and community engagement programmes.