Zhang Xiang

张想

Life status: Living
Born: August 20, 2011

Zhang Xiang underwent mother-led rewilding training from birth with her mother Zhangka. After 26 months of training, she was released into Liziping National Nature Reserve on November 6, 2013, becoming the world’s first captive-bred female giant panda released into the wild. Later infrared monitoring recorded her moving across reserve boundaries and confirmed that she had adapted to life in the wild.

Read the story Meet the family

Sex: Female
Studbook number: 826
Current place: Liziping National Nature Reserve

No photograph is available yet.

Timeline

6 recorded events

2011-08-20
Born in a semi-wild setting at Bifengxia Panda Base
Zhang Xiang was born in a semi-wild setting at Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda on August 20, 2011.
Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda
2013-11-06
Released into Liziping National Nature Reserve
Zhang Xiang was released into Liziping National Nature Reserve in Sichuan on November 6, 2013, becoming the world’s first captive-bred female giant panda released into the wild.
Liziping National Nature Reserve
2014-04-19
Recaptured for her first health examination and released again on site
Zhang Xiang was recaptured in Liziping National Nature Reserve for her first health examination on April 19, 2014, and was released again on site after being confirmed healthy.
Liziping National Nature Reserve
2017Year only
Recaptured for a second health examination and released again the next morning
Zhang Xiang was recaptured for a second health examination on September 28, 2017, and was released again at the capture site in the early hours of September 29 after being confirmed healthy.
2017-02-26
Recorded by an infrared camera in Yele Nature Reserve
Zhang Xiang was recorded by an infrared camera in Yele Nature Reserve in Mianning, Liangshan, Sichuan, on February 26, 2017, confirming that she had moved across reserve boundaries.
Yele Nature Reserve, Mianning, Liangshan, Sichuan
2025Year only
Public forestry records confirmed 12 years of successful survival in the wild and participation in breeding
In 2025, public information from China’s forestry and grassland authorities confirmed that Zhang Xiang had survived successfully in the wild for 12 years and had participated in breeding in the wild.