On October 13, 2015 the Toronto Zoo announced the birth of the first giant panda cubs born in Canada. Both Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue (Canadian Joy) have been a delight to watch as they have grown from two very small and vulnerable cubs to healthy and thriving youngsters and Toronto Zoo staff have appreciated each and every milestone they have reached. The challenges balanced with the number of joyous moments over the last 365 days have provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us here at the Toronto Zoo, and we are thankful to everyone who shared it with us along the way.
This monumental birthday celebration is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the success of the global Giant Panda Conservation Breeding Program. Thanks to a number of government, accredited zoos, and non-governmental organizations, the giant panda was recently downgraded from "endangered" to "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This positive shift remains a primary goal of all species protection plans, and a significant focus of efforts and educational messaging by accredited and responsible zoological organizations globally. The Toronto Zoo is honoured to be part of this ongoing success story for the giant pandas, and will continue tirelessly supporting and leading the many other species survival programs to maintain healthy and prolific populations within the animal kingdom for generations to come.
The Toronto Zoo has been committed to saving species since 1974, with commitment to the giant panda conservation breeding program at the Toronto Zoo since 2013. The Toronto Zoo takes pride in educating and engaging those who take an active interest in ways to save and protect species. To meet these captivating animals in real life, visit the Toronto Zoo, open year round, or learn more at torontozoo.com, the Zoo’s Facebook (facebook.com/TheTorontoZoo) or Twitter (twitter.com/TheTorontoZoo).
