Jia Jia (giant panda)

Jia Jia (1978 – 2016) was a female giant panda who resided at Ocean Park Hong Kong. Born in the wild in Sichuan Province, China, she was transferred to Hong Kong in 1999 along with another panda, An An, as a gift from the Chinese government to commemorate the second anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain.

Jia Jia was a significant attraction at Ocean Park, contributing to the park's conservation and education efforts. She became a symbol of goodwill between mainland China and Hong Kong. In 2015, Jia Jia broke two Guinness World Records, becoming the oldest giant panda ever in captivity and the oldest giant panda ever living.

Towards the end of her life, Jia Jia suffered from declining health due to her advanced age, including decreased appetite and mobility. She was euthanized by veterinarians at Ocean Park in October 2016 at the age of 38, equivalent to over 100 human years. Her remains were preserved for scientific research and educational purposes. Jia Jia's long lifespan provided valuable insights into the health and care of aging giant pandas.