Science, commerce, and politics: China’s giant pandas going global (1869-1948)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rise of modern natural history has changed the way Westerners see nature, and the generation and popularity of biological knowledge of species have caused transnational chain effects of commercial, ecological, and political nature. Giant pandas, a new species “reconstructed” after the rise of natural history, have attracted the attention of the Western public, and natural history institutions’ demand for exhibition has led to the commercialization of giant pandas. When large-scale hunting of giant pandas impacted the species, the Nationalist government shifted its focus from regulating foreigners to protecting a species: it became illegal for foreigners to hunt giant pandas in China. When the buying and selling of giant pandas was prohibited, European and US-American zoos requested that the Chinese government send giant pandas as gifts; hence the Nationalist government recognized the special role of giant pandas, and “panda diplomacy” began to emerge. Controlled species exchange also helped protect this species. Since natural history became a popular subject in the world, China’s wild animals became globally known as important “messengers” in China’s communication exchanges with the rest of the world.