The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda has announced the passing of Gao Gao, an elderly panda who returned to China from the United States. He died on November 24, 2025.
Male panda Gao Gao was approximately 33 years old. After being rescued in the wild in Baoxing, Sichuan, on April 6, 1993, his birth was estimated to be in September 1992. He arrived back in China from the San Diego Zoo on November 1, 2018, already at a senior age. Gao Gao suffered from common age-related conditions including hypertension, heart disease, and arthritis, and was under the dedicated care and close monitoring of the Panda Center. On November 24, he experienced a sudden onset of hind limb weakness, instability, and breathing difficulties. Despite emergency medical efforts, he passed away at 2:30 PM. (GaoGao)