1936day.year
American fashion designer Ruth Harkness encounters and captures a nine-week-old panda cub in Sichuan; it becomes the first live giant panda to enter the United States.
American explorer Ruth Harkness captured a nine-week-old giant panda cub in Sichuan, marking the first live panda brought to the United States.
In 1936, fashion designer turned explorer Ruth Harkness traveled to Sichuan Province in China in search of giant pandas. After months of expedition, she discovered and captured a nine-week-old panda cub she named Su Lin. Harkness overcame logistical and diplomatic challenges to transport Su Lin safely across cities and eventually to the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago. The arrival of the first live giant panda in the United States captivated the public and sparked widespread interest in panda conservation. Harkness’s achievement ushered in a new era of animal diplomacy and zoo outreach, influencing international perceptions of wildlife and conservation efforts.
1936
Ruth Harkness
Sichuan
giant panda