Giant pandas draw global attention through international cooperation. China has programs with 15 countries and 38 pandas overseas as of 2026, with a pair costing about $1 million per year.
Tags:Few animals in the world can attract the kind of attention that giant pandas receive. They eat bamboo, sleep for hours and spend much of their day simply relaxing — yet millions of people around the world are fascinated by them.
Today, giant pandas can be found in zoos across the world. As of 2026, China has international panda cooperation programs with 15 countries, with 38 pandas living overseas. Many people assume that sending these "national treasures" abroad is merely for cuteness and socializing, but very few have seriously calculated how much real money these top-tier celebrities bring back to China each year. The answer is very clear: the cooperation fee for a pair of giant pandas is approximately $1 million per year.
But what is life really like for a panda living outside China?
Taking care of a giant panda is surprisingly complicated. Pandas need large living spaces, carefully controlled conditions, specialist veterinarians and, most importantly, a constant supply of the right kind of bamboo.
Screenshot from Internert
Some overseas zoos have even created special bamboo-growing areas for their pandas. France's Beauval Zoo, for example, developed a large panda area and eventually expanded its bamboo-growing land to around 10 hectares.
And pandas are not cheap to look after. Their food, medical care, specialist staff and facilities require significant resources. Even transporting them between countries requires special arrangements, with transportation costs covered by the receiving side.
An adult giant panda can spend a large part of its day eating. Because bamboo contains relatively little energy, pandas need to consume large quantities to get enough nutrition.
This means that a zoo cannot simply buy whatever bamboo is available locally. Many zoos work with specialists to find suitable varieties and maintain a reliable supply. In some European zoos, bamboo is even specially grown for the pandas. Pandas can also create an extraordinary connection with local communities.
Screenshot from Internert
Japan is one of the most famous examples. When Xiang Xiang, a panda born at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, was introduced to the public, demand to see her was so high that visitors had to enter a lottery.
Thousands of people wanted one last chance to see her before she returned to China. When the day finally came, crowds gathered outside the zoo and even followed her journey toward the airport. For many people, saying goodbye felt like saying goodbye to a beloved celebrity. And Xiang Xiang is not the only panda to create this kind of emotional connection. Around the world, panda births often become major local events, attracting visitors and generating enormous excitement.
There is another important side to the story. Panda cooperation allows scientists and animal-care specialists from different countries to work together. They exchange knowledge about breeding, nutrition, disease prevention and wildlife conservation.
Screenshot from Internert
Over the years, this international cooperation has helped researchers better understand one of the world's most recognizable endangered species. Today, giant pandas have become something much bigger than a popular zoo attraction. They represent wildlife conservation, scientific cooperation and cultural exchange.
For international visitors, seeing a panda in a zoo may take only a few minutes. But behind that moment are years of research, specialist care and cooperation between people from different countries. Perhaps that is what makes pandas so special: they may be China's national treasure, but their ability to bring people together has truly become global.
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Editor: Yuna
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