Shi Shi (giant panda)
Shi Shi (Chinese: 石石; pinyin: Shí Shí; c. 1970s – d. July 5, 2008), or "Rock", was a male giant panda who briefly stayed at the San Diego Zoo. He was the sire of Hua Mei. His name has been sometimes wrongly interpreted as "Poo-Poo."
History
Shi Shi was "rescued" from the wild in Sichuan, China in 1992. He was rehabilitated and sent to San Diego Zoo as the mate for Bai Yun in 1996. In 1999, Bai Yun was artificially inseminated with sperm from Shi Shi and Hua Mei was their offspring. It was eventually determined that he was much older than was originally assumed, and he was replaced by Gao Gao as Bai Yun's mate.[1]
Shi Shi lived out his remaining years in China at the Guangzhou Zoo and died on July 5, 2008.[1] Shi Shi was remembered by local newspapers, and many people were affected by his loss.
References
- 1 2 "San Diego Zoo panda profile: Shi Shi". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.