San Diego Zoo CEO has had 'incredible' experiences in China

Whether it's welcoming pandas back to San Diego or exploring the wilds of China for a Disney documentary, Paul Baribault has had good experiences working with the country.

The most recent example was when Panda Ridge, home to giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, officially opened at the San Diego Zoo on Aug 8, in a much-anticipated return of the beloved giant pandas to the city after a five-year absence. It also marked the first arrival of pandas in the US in two decades.

The milestone reflects the collaborative efforts between China and the United States, with Baribault, president and CEO of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, or SDZWA, playing a pivotal role in the successful launch.

In an interview with China Daily during the opening ceremony, Baribault highlighted the zoo's 30-year partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, or CWCA, and the dual commitment to collaboration over the next decade.

"We are very proud of our relationship with CWCA. They have been incredible partners for the past 30 years and we eagerly anticipate what we will accomplish together in the next 10 years and beyond," Baribault said.

"My first experience working in China was in 2012, when I was with Disneynature. I worked on the nature film Born in China, where we had the opportunity to showcase the beauty of China and work with the China Wildlife Conservation Association during that time," Baribault recalled.

Bringing the pandas back to San Diego was a challenge. It required hard work, meticulous planning and a healthy dose of optimism. Baribault led a dedicated task force from the SDZWA, assembling a team focused on identifying every potential obstacle.

Together, they worked tirelessly to turn obstacles into opportunities, ultimately reaching their goal after a six-month sprint.

Baribault, who has a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Southern California, has a distinguished history as a leader in wildlife healthcare, conservation, science and education.

His leadership since becoming SDZWA CEO in 2019 helped facilitate the return of the pandas and strengthened the zoo's ties with China.

"Giant pandas are emblematic of the collaborative efforts between China and the US in conservation. I hope this marks the beginning of a new era of continued global collaboration for the protection of ecosystems," Baribault said.

He emphasized the unifying power of giant pandas in fostering collaboration.

"We are dedicated to saving wildlife worldwide by working with our Chinese partners, combining their skills with our expertise in wildlife care and conservation science," Baribault said.

Before joining the SDZWA, Baribault had a significant impact on nature conservation through his work in the film industry, joining The Walt Disney Studios in 1997. He served as vice-president of animation marketing operations and strategy and general manager of the Disneynature film label, committed to continuing Walt Disney's legacy of conservation and fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world.

Nature films

Walt Disney's series True-Life Adventures began as an experiment with the documentary Seal Island (1948). The series went on to win eight Academy Awards, inspiring generations of nature filmmakers and conservationists.

Under Baribault's stewardship, Disneynature films — Earth (2009), Oceans (2010), African Cats (2011), Chimpanzee (2012), Bears (2014), Monkey Kingdom (2015), and Born in China (2016) — produced seven of the top eight highest-grossing feature-length nature films in industry history.

Born in China, a coproduction by Disneynature and Shanghai Media Group, took audiences on an epic journey into the wilds of China, exploring places where few have ventured.

The film follows the stories of three animal families — giant pandas, golden monkeys and snow leopards — transporting viewers to some of the most extreme environments in China — from frigid mountains to the heart of bamboo forests — capturing some of the most intimate moments seen in a nature film.

Based on the opening-week attendance in the US in April 2017, the film made a significant contribution to the World Wildlife Fund's efforts to protect wild pandas and snow leopards.

"Our filmmakers spent nearly three years battling tough terrain, freezing temperatures and the near-impossible task of finding snow leopards. China and its captivating wildlife left an incredible impression on all of us," said Baribault.

"When I joined the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in 2019, I made an early trip to China to underscore the importance of continuing our conservation projects together," he said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership between the CWCA and SDZWA.

Si Ping, deputy secretary-general of the CWCA, who attended the opening ceremony for Panda Ridge in San Diego, stressed building an international exchange and cooperation platform that can support the conservation of the wild giant panda population in China and contribute to global biodiversity.

"One of the main priorities of this conservation project was not just to focus on breeding in our managed care facilities, both here and in China, but also to support access to the species in the wild and to help repopulate their natural habitats in China," she added.